Energy policy is foreign policy. The world is less secure without U.S. LNG -

U.S. LNG is the only solution that accomplishes energy security and climate goals

The decision to politicize the LNG export approval process ahead of the elections only serves to undermine the massive decarbonization opportunities in the power and industrial sector. It will also shake the world’s confidence that the United States remains the most reliable source of energy for our friends and allies around the world. Everyone is watching—friends and foes.

As the Washington Post Editorial Board wrote, “It’s an election-year sop to climate activists that will do much more to unsettle vital U.S. alliances than to save the planet.”

U.S. LNG is the most secure choice. Two-thirds of the world's economically recoverable gas is in just four countries: Russia, Iran, Qatar, and the U.S. If we restrict our gas exports, we'll leave allies and partners vulnerable to authoritarian regimes.

U.S. LNG is cleaner than coal. Natural gas produces half of coal's carbon emissions for the same amount of energy. Coal is also responsible for more methane than gas, with Chinese coal production alone emitting 15% of the world's energy-sector methane.

Pausing U.S. LNG export approvals detracts from our climate and foreign policy goals.

- Chris Treanor, Executive Director, PAGE

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Pausing LNG Export Approvals Will Carry Long-Term Risks For Our Allies And Ability To Meet Global Climate Goals

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has paused approvals of liquified natural gas (LNG) export facilities, injecting insecurity into global energy markets and jeopardizing the goals of the landmark COP28 climate agreement signed in December. That agreement recognized that natural gas is essential to the worldwide energy transition by providing a cleaner fuel source than coal while providing critical energy security.

Unfortunately, this decision is not based on science, will have an unintended impact on climate and cuts off our allies as they seek secure, less carbon-intensive energy sources to keep their lights on.

The Washington Post: Biden's LNG decision is a win for political symbolism, not the climate

The main short-run damage the administration’s obviously political decision does is to the United States’ reputation for rational, fact-based policymaking, and for wise consideration of climate control in the context of geopolitics.

You cannot change demand for energy by destroying supply: If the United States did indeed curtail LNG exports, it would just drive customers into the arms of competitors such as Australia, Qatar, Algeria and, yes, Russia. Quite possibly, some potential customers would choose to meet their needs with coal instead.

Bipartisan Event Confirms Natural Gas is an Integral Part of the Clean Energy Transition

After COP28 solidified the consensus for pragmatic decarbonization, Congressional, industry and labor leaders convened in Washington D.C. to discuss the action needed by the U.S. to meet their globalobligations to reduce emissions.

Through a panel discussion focused on “Perspectives from COP28: A Monumental Moment to Reach Climate Goals,” permitting reform was highlighted as the key to unlocking the potential of U.S. liquified natural gas (LNG) to provide energy security and achieve our collective climate goals.

ICYMI: PAGE Reaffirms The Global Importance of U.S. LNG

"We strongly oppose the Administration’s misguided decision to halt U.S. LNG export approvals. As we emphasized in our January 19, 2024 letter to U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, restricting the export capacity for U.S. LNG will have serious foreign policy implications and compromise future decarbonization progress.

Two-thirds of the world's economically recoverable gas is in just four countries: Russia, Iran, Qatar, and the U.S. When Russia weaponized its reserves after invading Ukraine – beginning with cutting off its gas supply to Europe – the U.S. quickly supplied LNG to replace methane-intensive Russian gas. This support to our allies accounted for 40% of EU LNG imports in 2022. The new U.S. LNG export pause has the potential to create massive global energy instability once again, as first instigated by President Putin."

Read the full statement here

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Energy policy is foreign policy. The world is less secure without U.S. LNG