PAGE Energy Policy Priorities in the First 100 Days

The Trump Administration and Congress have an opportunity to increase LNG exports, pass permitting reform and address methane emissions

The results of the 2024 U.S. elections demonstrate that support for natural gas production was a winning issue. A large majority of voters support a steady energy transition using all available options, including natural gas. Ultimately, elected officials of both parties who expressed alignment with these energy priorities were rewarded by voters. Following President Donald Trump’s inauguration and the start of the 119^th Congress, lawmakers have an opportunity to expand affordable and reliable natural gas’ role as an energy security and climate solution.

The Partnership to Address Global Emissions (PAGE) looks forward to working with the new Administration and Congress on critical energy and climate issues. This includes increasing liquified natural gas (LNG) exports, addressing methane emissions and passing meaningful permitting reform.

Increasing LNG Exports

The U.S. has emerged as a leading exporter of LNG, driven by technological advancement and a global shift towards cleaner energy sources. The positive climate impact of U.S. LNG has been tremendous, with a recent study by ICF International confirming that U.S. LNG exports produced fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to coal in 2022.

Quote from Chris Treanor, Executive Director of PAGE: “This study underscores the fact that natural gas is a cleaner alternative to coal and must remain a solution to achieving our climate and energy security goals."

However, the Biden Administration temporarily paused approvals of new LNG exports in January 2024 while they studied whether exports are in the public interest. This left our international partners questioning the U.S.’s commitment to delivering energy security to protect them from Russian aggression, which is in direct conflict with our push for foreign aid to support our allies’ sovereignty. While the flawed study still needs to be finalized, the Trump Administration has thankfully reversed the pause and provided certainty to our allies that they’ll have access to a more secure and affordable energy supply that helps reduce global emissions and builds a stronger domestic economy. The Trump Administration and Congress can build on this progress by continuing to prioritize LNG exports as part of a broader energy security and decarbonization strategy.

Passing Permitting Reform

Yet, we cannot meet the growing energy demand without permitting reform. Our nation’s energy infrastructure is at capacity, and significant infrastructure investments are needed to unleash all energy resources, including natural gas and renewables. Natural gas demand has grown 43% since 2013, while infrastructure to deliver it has only increased 25%, and storage delivery capacity has only grown 2%. This trend has resulted in higher prices and reliability challenges, even though abundant and affordable supplies remain available.

The current permitting process for energy projects is lengthy and complex, often involving multiple federal and state agencies and taking up to a decade to complete. Streamlining this process is essential to expediting project approvals and reducing bureaucratic delays.

Previous legislative efforts have aimed to simplify the permitting process without compromising environmental standards. However, they have not resulted in the scale of progression needed to achieve our goals. PAGE calls on the new Congress to pass comprehensive permitting reform that includes targeted improvements to the Natural Gas Act and integration of state reviews into the existing Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) process. This will untangle bureaucratic bottlenecks preventing American energy from reaching consumers.

Reducing Methane Emissions

While natural gas is itself a clean-burning energy resource, it is important that the supply chain delivering that resource is operated in a way that also limits methane emissions. To achieve our shared goals, we need to reduce these potent emissions and the energy sector has the largest potential for a rapid reduction.

The good news is that U.S. oil and gas methane emissions are on the decline. PAGE and others in the natural gas industry have taken extraordinary measures to reduce methane emissions by implementing operational changes and expanding the use of innovative technologies – making U.S. LNG one of the lowest-intensity natural gas sources in the world. Exporting more U.S. natural gas abroad is an important next step to reduce emissions globally, especially in countries like China, whose coal dependency is responsible for 15% of the world’s methane emissions.

We encourage reasonable methane recommendations from policymakers to improve emissions measurement by investing in advanced detection, monitoring and measurement technologies and practices to continue contributing to global emissions reduction goals which will keep U.S. LNG competitive on a global scale. In early 2024, the EU adopted stringent methane regulations for all oil, gas and coal imports, creating an economic opportunity for energy producing nations who comply with these standards. By fostering efforts that help U.S. LNG meet Europe’s regulations, the Trump Administration can unlock the economic benefits and jobs associated with producing and shipping LNG, while bolstering energy security here and abroad.

The Bottom Line

Voters have made clear that they favor energy policies that prioritize affordability and reliability, and the new Administration and Congress have an opportunity to address these issues as they begin their terms this month. PAGE is eager to engage with policymakers on solutions to increase U.S. natural gas production, make our energies cleaner, and pass legislation that speeds up the permitting process. By embracing innovation and collaboration, the U.S. can continue to play a pivotal energy leadership role, delivering responsible LNG to global markets.

Insights from Climate Week NYC: U.S. Natural Gas is the Ideal Energy Source of the World

U.S. natural gas can help us achieve our global climate goals and provide energy security for our allies

For years, Climate Week NYC has provided policymakers, government officials, and industry leaders with a platform to discuss effective solutions to decarbonize global emissions. Among over 100,000 estimated participants at Climate Week, the Partnership to Address Global Emissions (PAGE) was at the forefront of these conversations, emphasizing the bipartisan and international consensus that natural gas plays a key role in the energy transition as a reliable low-carbon energy source.

The consensus coming out of Climate Week is clear – natural gas is essential to achieving the dual goals of energy security and reducing global emissions, by decreasing dependence on global coal and dirtier energy from Russia. One of the most effective ways to lower power sector and industrial emissions is to switch from coal to natural gas, especially in regions heavily reliant on coal. We've seen the results of this approach firsthand in the U.S, where 65% of the country’s power sector emissions reductions from 2005-2019 were achieved through coal-to-gas switching.

“It’s Never Been a More Important Time to Produce Energy”

PAGE kicked off Climate Week by sponsoring an Axios event, “A Conversation on Global Deployment of Energy Alternatives to Coal.” During the “View from the Top” discussion, Toby Z. Rice, President & CEO of EQT, emphasized how replacing foreign coal with U.S. natural gas is the best way to continue reducing worldwide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but that there are barriers to delivering affordable and reliable energy for consumers. Among these challenges include a lack of natural gas infrastructure and the Department of Energy’s pause on liquified natural gas (LNG) export approvals, preventing the U.S. from delivering sufficient natural gas supplies to our allies overseas. His remarks echoed earlier points raised by Ali Zaidi, Assistant to the President and National Climate Advisor, who noted “it’s increasingly hard to get natural gas infrastructure built in the United States," due to a number of roadblocks.

The conversation about the benefits of U.S. natural gas continued throughout Climate Week and culminated in the presentation of a new independent report released by the Center on Regulation in Europe – “Securing Europe’s Net Zero Path and Flexible LNG.” The study confirmed the key role of LNG as a transitional fuel that can ensure Europe’s energy security and achieve the EU’s ambitious climate goals. Notable speakers during the presentation included Ditte Juul Jørgensen, Director General for Energy of the European Commission, Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt, Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Energy Resources, and PAGE member Naomi Boness, Managing Director, Stanford Natural Gas and Stanford Hydrogen Initiatives, who highlighted the importance of cooperation among allies to ensure a reliable energy supply during times of heightened geopolitical instability.

In Europe, the absence of stable energy supplies has contributed to a volatile energy market, with electricity prices now 2-3 times higher than those in the U.S. according to the recent Draghi Report. As a consequence, several EU states are reopening once dormant coal plants to reduce energy costs. While there may be short-term economic benefits, this rise in coal-fired power generation can have disastrous climate impacts and not provide longer-term stability to energy markets in Europe and the rest of the world. In fact, if just 5% of the worst emitting coal-power plants switched to natural gas, global power sector emissions would be reduced by 30%. This would increase to nearly 50% if that switch incorporated carbon capture and storage.

From left to right: Geoffrey Pyatt, Ditte Juul Jørgensen, Toby Z. Rice

We Must Address the Elephant in the Room – Methane

Another important part of PAGE’s message at Climate Week focused on the need to address the elephant in the room – methane. The U.S. natural gas industry understands the critical role it must play in in reducing methane emissions and PAGE members have already taken significant steps to eliminate methane through investment and innovation. These efforts have helped establish U.S. natural gas as among the cleanest in the world.

As a result, U.S. methane emissions decreased by 23% from 2020 - 2022, with only an additional 7% decline needed by 2030 to meet the global methane pledge. By further reducing methane emissions across the natural gas value chain, we can continue to secure our allies’ energy in the cleanest way possible. Several House Democrats recently acknowledged this in a letter to President Biden, affirming that “American LNG is produced with some of the strongest environmental protections globally.”

The Bottom Line

As we navigate the complexities of the energy transition, U.S. natural gas stands alone as the most viable solution to reduce global GHG emissions and secure energy supplies. At Climate Week, this consensus was apparent among conversations with policymakers and industry experts, reflecting the pragmatic dialogue last year at COP28 that recognized natural gas as having a key role to play in meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.

As we look towards the future, we need to capitalize on the opportunity we have before us. The U.S. has a responsibility to lead this movement towards a cleaner, more secure energy future with our abundant supply of natural gas.

Voters Overwhelmingly Supportive of Natural Gas. Democratic Candidates Can Take Advantage.

Others remain silent and risk missing out on a potent electoral issue and tool for quickly decarbonizing emissions.

With the 2024 U.S. elections just two months away, candidates have limited time to engage with voters and take a stance on several critical issues, including the direction of energy and climate policy.

While Democrats have largely avoided public support for natural gas this election cycle, the recent presidential debate hosted by ABC News reinforced the bipartisan backing of this vital American resource. During the debate, Vice President Kamala Harris highlighted her work to invest in a diversity of energy sources including increasing “domestic gas production to historic levels.” While her remarks indicate a growing understanding of where voters are on the issue, the evidence suggests that adopting a more outwardly supportive position on natural gas will help her develop inroads with a majority of voters in both parties.

As the election draws nearer, Harris and the Democratic party have an opportunity to unite voters by being vocal about opportunities to use U.S. natural gas as a proven and widely popular decarbonization tool in the energy transition.

Jumpstarted by the U.S. shale boom, natural gas has been a key factor in reducing domestic emissions over last several years, and was once again the largest driver behind U.S. energy sector emissions reductions in 2023. Meanwhile, it has also served as an economic and job-creation engine in states like Pennsylvania.

A recent nationwide poll conducted by Impact Research and commissioned by the Partnership to Address Global Emissions (PAGE) shows that voters overwhelmingly support natural gas. In fact, 69% of voters, including most Democrats, support increasing natural gas production.

“The path to victory is clear: voters support natural gas, and lawmakers who have heeded public opinion have overwhelmingly been successful in their elections.”

The poll found that voters are increasingly pragmatic about the energy transition and the role of cleaner fuel sources such as natural gas. 76% of voters and 80% of Democrats want the country to move steadily to clean energy, using all available options, including natural gas, to keep energy affordable and reliable.

A winning issue for politicians and the environment

This recent polling is not an anomaly. The last several years have also proven that supporting natural gas is a winner at the ballot box, particularly for Democrats.

Lawmakers who publicly back this position include Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), a proponent of natural gas production, who has claimed that "climate change is an existential threat, but we must transition in a way that preserves the union way of life for thousands of workers currently employed or supported by the natural gas industry in Pennsylvania and the communities where they live."

In 2022, Fetterman vocally supported natural gas and won a hotly-contested Senate seat in a year when Republicans expected to make significant legislative gains. Two years after prevailing in this election, Fetterman holds a net +7% approval rating, according to a New York Times/Siena poll.

Besides Fetterman, Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) has found similar electoral success. Bennet, now a three-term Senator, believes "it's been very important for American liquified natural gas (LNG) to replace the natural gas Russia was sending to Europe." The results showed in the 2022 midterms, where Bennet secured his reelection by 14.6%.

In the House, Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) – also a strong proponent of exporting U.S. LNG to our allies overseas – represents one of the most competitive districts in the country. Nevertheless, Golden triumphed in 2020 despite Donald Trump winning the district by 11% that same year. And in 2022, Golden was reelected by 6.2%.

The Time to Champion Decarbonization is Now

The path to victory is clear: voters support natural gas, and lawmakers who have heeded public opinion have overwhelmingly been successful in their elections. By contrast, pursuing overly ambitious climate policies at the expense of proven solutions can have election consequences.

As we saw in Europe this summer, voters are willing to vote against policymakers who do not prioritize energy affordability, reliability, and security. As a result, pragmatic energy proponents made significant electoral gains across the EU's parliamentary elections.

The bottom line is that natural gas is an effective climate solution, and policymakers can openly support sensible energy policies to help them align with voters.

Shying away from natural gas could cost candidates support in November

Pursuing perfection at the expense of the good would derail the climate progress we’ve achieved over the last several years

Ahead of the 2024 U.S. elections, policymakers have only a few more months to make their case to the American people on how to address several critical issues, including the direction of energy and climate policy at the national level.

Over the past two decades, the U.S. has made significant progress in reducing carbon emissions with the help of U.S. natural gas, which accounts for a substantial portion of the decrease. Additionally, the Biden Administration and Congress have successfully implemented a range of policies over the last several years to tackle the nation’s CO2 emissions further.

Voters, including 80% of Democrats, want a steady transition to clean energy using all available resources.

However, rather than taking credit for these victories, some lawmakers have hesitated to voice their support for natural gas, fearing alienating voters and hurting their re-election chances. Ironically, for these policymakers, shying away from natural gas could do the reverse and hurt their re-election efforts.

According to a new nationwide poll conducted by Impact Research and commissioned by the Partnership to Address Global Emissions (PAGE), 69% of voters, including most Democrats, support increasing natural gas production.

Backfiring Ambition

Pursuing perfection at the expense of the good could derail our climate goals and make it even more challenging to achieve the targets set out in the Paris Climate Agreement. Climate-focused policymakers who fail to voice their support for affordable, reliable, and secure energy policies that include natural gas could face disappointing results at the ballot box in November. In fact, voters – including 80% of Democrats – want a steady transition to clean energy using all available resources according to the poll.

Policymakers encountered a similar scenario in 1993 when the Democratic-controlled House passed a large, broad-based BTU energy tax policy featuring then-President Clinton's high-profile public push. While the bill failed in the Senate, it nevertheless proved consequential in the 1994 mid-terms – Democrats lost 54 seats and control of the House.

More recently, Democrats pursued an overly ambitious cap-and-trade bill in 2010—the American Clean Energy and Security Act. The bill sought to impose a market-based system that would set a ceiling on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while allowing companies to trade permits to meet these requirements.

Much like the BTU tax, the cap-and-trade bill never made it through the Senate, mainly because an independent EIA study commissioned by Senate Democrats found that it would increase energy prices. This misfire provided campaign fodder for Republicans during the election cycle, and Democrats paid the price at the ballot box, losing a historic 63 House seats during the 2010 mid-terms.

Democrats still have time to support a popular solution responsible for a large portion of U.S. emissions reductions.

Lessons for 2024

With half the world's population holding elections in 2024, politicians would be wise to learn from the past and support a steady, pragmatic, clean energy transition using all available resources.

As we saw last month, the EU's Green Party faced significant losses in parliamentary elections. In contrast, opponents of highly restrictive EU climate policies saw substantial gains in countries including France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy.

These results indicate that policymakers were moving faster on climate initiatives, impacting affordability and reliability, than voters were comfortable with. These losses may result in a dramatic shift in EU climate policy in the foreseeable future.  

EP Elections: The Shape of the New Parliament

As U.S. policymakers look onward, they currently sit at a significant crossroads. They can either pursue overly ambitious climate policies that voters don't support or embrace a proven approach to tackling global emissions and ensure our energy security by supporting U.S. natural gas.  

Candidates still have time to support a popular solution responsible for a large portion of U.S. emissions reductions. However, the clock is ticking, and voters have shown little patience with politicians who fail to heed public opinion.  

New poll finds that nearly 70% of voters support increasing natural gas production

There is a broad consensus that voters want natural gas to be part of a steady transition to clean energy

Among a number of pressing issues, this November American voters will decide on the direction of energy and climate policy for years to come. Over the past three plus years, the Biden Administration and Congress have pursued a climate agenda that prioritized reducing emissions. Yet Democratic policymakers have shied away from publicly supporting the primary driver behind U.S. emissions reductions – natural gas – for fear of alienating voters.

The reality is voters across party lines overwhelmingly want natural gas to play a role in the energy transition. That’s what a new nationwide poll conducted by Democratic polling firm Impact Research and commissioned by the Partnership to Address Global Emissions (PAGE) found. Ahead of the upcoming election, climate-minded candidates would be wise to consider where voters stand on natural gas as an energy and climate solution.

The poll found that voters are increasingly pragmatic about the energy transition, as 76% of voters and 80% of Democrats want the country to steadily transition to clean energy by using all options currently available to keep energy affordable and reliable. The appeal of this approach is growing rapidly, with support for a steady transition climbing 11 percentage points today compared to 2022.

But what do Americans mean by a “steady” transition? The poll overwhelmingly shows that voters want the steady transition to feature natural gas.

Nearly 70% of voters are in favor of increasing natural gas production, including majorities of Democrats (59%) and Independents (63%).

Moderate Democratic support for increased production has progressed the most, with net support growing 10 percentage points since 2022. Natural gas, only slightly behind renewables, such as solar (84%) and wind energy (78%), is the top energy source voters want to see used more, with 67% in favor of increased usage.

Widespread support for natural gas also extends to exporting the fuel to our allies. More than half of all voters (58%) and Democrats (63%) say it’s important to support our allies by providing reliable energy exports of natural gas. In the same vein, there is net support (+12 overall / +13 Democrats) for increasing the exportation of American-produced natural gas to allied nations.

This support for natural gas is driven by reliability and affordability being top of mind for voters. Reducing energy costs is a top priority for a majority of voters across party lines, including 62% of moderate Democrats and 58% of Independents. Additionally, nearly 60% of voters believe that strengthening U.S. energy independence is vital for energy policy.

The results are clear: Democrats must be willing to meet voters where they are on climate solutions, which include natural gas. Recent history suggests that failing to balance emissions with affordability and reliability hurts Democrats at the polls. For example, Democrats suffered historic election losses following the unsuccessful cap-and-trade bill of 2010. It was nearly a decade following those votes before a majority of voters supported ambitious climate legislation.

By aligning with the majority of voters and advocating for reliable, affordable, and clean energy, our leaders can better position themselves to drive a successful long-term energy transition that reduces emissions, creates jobs, and strengthens the economy.

Bipartisan event confirms natural gas is an integral part of the clean energy transition

Permitting reform can unlock the potential of U.S. LNG to achieve our collective energy and climate goals

At COP28 in Dubai, the Partnership to Address Global Emissions (PAGE) spread awareness about natural gas’ potential to decarbonize the world by replacing dirty coal-fired power plants.

These efforts had an impact as world leaders, for the first time, called for investment in transition fuels, such as natural gas, among other priorities in addressing climate change. In fact, the final agreement that leaders forged acknowledges this directly, recognizing “that transitional fuels can play a role in facilitating the energy transition while ensuring energy security.”

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 global obligations 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.

Natural gas as a clean energy solution

Some advocates have argued that renewables are the only solution for reducing emissions. While renewables are noteworthy successes, they cannot generate the baseload energy we need without support from more reliable energy sources such as natural gas. Scott Peters (D-CA) agrees that “the promise to eliminate fossil fuels is aspirational, not operational” and that we need to focus on reducing emissions through a pragmatic approach.

Natural gas can complement and is critical in assisting the buildout of renewables. As Toby Rice, President and CEO of EQT noted, “people are recognizing that wind and solar are not enough. They are great solutions, but they need heavyweight support. And the heavyweight support is natural gas replacing foreign coal.”

The environmental benefits of coal-to-gas switching are clear. Natural gas produces half the amount of CO₂ per unit of energy than coal does when burned, making it an ideal near-term energy solution. John Curtis (R-UT) recognizes these benefits, stating that “until we turn our discussion to reducing emissions and not reducing choices, you’re just not going to make progress.”

In fact, the U.S. has experienced a remarkable 17% decline in GHG emissions over the past 15 years, with 65% of all power sector emissions reductions due to coal-to-gas-switching. But we cannot achieve our global climate goals without replacing the dirtiest coal plants worldwide, which is why we must look beyond our borders and export more LNG to our allies in need.

According to Alan Armstrong, President and CEO of Williams, “our goal should be to reduce emissions and that is what we are focused on across the pipeline industry and the gas production industry. It’s clear that natural gas, in partnership with renewables and alongside bipartisan permitting reform, is key to a lower-carbon energy system.”

The rise of coal power generation

The rise of global coal use makes U.S. LNG exports even more imperative. In 2022, global coal consumption rose by 3.3% to 8.3 billion tonnes, a new all-time high. China and India have seen the most significant increase in coal use, while several European countries have reopened once dormant coal plants to ensure they have enough energy for the winter.

Without U.S. LNG, our allies will be forced to rely on energy resources from less stable and undemocratic energy hubs such as China, Russia, Iran, and Qatar. This not only is a direct threat to our allies, but it also jeopardizes our own national security. To maintain energy superiority over our adversaries, we’re going to need permitting reform to revamp our production capabilities.

We need permitting reform to achieve our energy and climate goals

“Permitting reform is going to be absolutely critical for achieving all these goals that we’re talking about,” says Jay Timmons, CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers. That’s because today energy projects can take years to receive approval, and endless red tape and lawsuits are further delaying and even sometimes preventing the development of critical pipeline infrastructure all together.

This puts us “at a competitive disadvantage” says David Valadao (R-CA) and makes it “impossible for us to produce because either our energy prices are too high, or we just can’t get the energy to those factories.”

We need Washington to finally prioritize permitting reform so we’re able to provide the energy our allies around the world desperately need. “Permitting reform cannot be partisan and it should not be partisan,” argues Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA). “We need to move forward quickly on that issue as well as talking about grid reliability.” And “if we don’t have permitting reform,” says Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), “if we don’t have infrastructure built for the transmission lines, it doesn’t matter everything else that we’re doing.”

The solution to addressing the climate crisis and restoring energy security is at our fingertips, we just need to utilize our resources. “There’s an urgency to this that we need to underscore,” says Mary Landrieu (D-LA).” There are a lot of good ideas on the table, but we must do this on a scale and at a speed never been done before. This is about American leadership, and this is about Congressional leadership.”

Obama-era Energy Secretary: Natural gas is the ‘logical’ global energy transition plan

COP28 wrapped up in Dubai, burdened by an undeniable truth: the world is still not on pace to successfully limit the rise of global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Fortunately, world leaders were open to pragmatic solutions and recognized that natural gas has a role in achieving the goals outlined in the Paris Climate Agreement. Among those proponents was Obama-era Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, who said natural gas is the "logical" clean energy transition plan.

While some advocates have argued that renewables are the only solution for reducing emissions, the fact remains that they currently cannot generate the baseload energy that we need. As long as battery storage and transmission infrastructure challenges remain, renewables will remain a part of the solution, not the whole solution.

"If the world's top 5% worst emitting coal-power plants switched to natural gas, it would reduce global power sector emissions by 30%."

At COP28, world leaders recognized that natural gas and renewables must complement each other to maintain energy security while working to transition to renewables and continue to provide the public with clean, affordable and reliable energy.

Coal-to-Gas Switching at Home

The US has provided a model showing that low-carbon natural gas is a pivotal part of the global energy transition. This strategy involves expanding natural gas production while simultaneously phasing out coal power plants. The environmental benefits are clear – natural gas produces half the amount of CO2 per unit of energy than coal does when burned, making it an ideal near-term energy solution.

The results have been exceptional over the last two decades, with the US achieving a historic 17% decline in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by switching from coal to natural gas while producing unprecedented cost savings for consumers.

Furthermore, 65% of all US power generation emissions reductions over the last 15 years were driven by coal-to-gas switching. While this solution has led to significant emissions reductions at home, we need to look beyond our borders and export liquified natural gas (LNG) so we can replace the dirtiest coal-fired power plants worldwide.

Export LNG to Reduce Emissions on a Global Scale

The need for cleaner natural gas on a global scale has never been more critical. Global coal consumption reached a new all-time high in 2022, increasing by 3.3% to 8.3 billion tons.

Coal consumption is also responsible for about 40% of global GHG emissions, and supply chain and geopolitical challenges caused demand to increase by approximately 1.5% in the first half of 2023. Europe's energy crisis showed that countries are willing to revert to higher-emitting sources at the expense of cleaner options to stabilize energy flows.

Remarkably, if the world's top 5% worst emitting coal-power plants switched to natural gas, it would reduce global power sector emissions by 30%. If that switch incorporates carbon capture and storage, this reduction would increase to nearly 50%.

Taking on Methane Emissions

Coal-to-gas switching would also put a significant dent in global methane emissions. According to Paul Bledsoe of the Progressive Policy Institute, "limiting methane will reduce near-term temperatures far more than any other action."

Methane reduction is critical in countries like China, the world's largest coal producer, whose coal mines are responsible for over 15% of global energy sector methane emissions. Dirty plants like these must be replaced with a low-carbon alternative, and natural gas is the ideal solution.

The good news is that the US natural gas industry is serious about reducing methane emissions and recognizes that this will further unlock natural gas's potential as a global climate solution.

At COP28, 50 energy companies, including a Partnership to Address Global Emissions member, signed onto the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter to push methane abatement and other emissions reduction efforts across the industry. Alan Armstrong, CEO and President of Williams, said his company is "rapidly going after methane," having reduced its methane emissions by 16.5% in 2022.

The Missing Link: Reforming US Permitting Policies

For far too long, energy companies were excluded from conversations about solutions to address climate change. But COP28 gave the industry a seat at the table, allowing an opportunity to highlight the logic behind natural gas – it is the key to a successful global energy transition AND energy security.

We must harness this momentum and urge policymakers in Washington to back permitting reform and expedite the approval process for long-awaited pipeline infrastructure.

The US has the resources and can export enough LNG to the rest of the world to make achieving the Paris climate agreement a reality.

COP28: An opportunity to harness the capabilities of clean natural gas

The annual UN Climate Change Conference, or COP28, will commence November 30 – December 12 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. As the world's largest climate change conference, business and government leaders will convene to discuss progress towards achieving the Paris Climate Agreement.

While progress has been made in some countries, we are not currently on track to achieve our global emissions goals. According to the International Energy Agency's (IEA) updated Net Zero Roadmap, global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the energy sector reached an all-time high of 37 billion tons in 2022, 1% above their pre-pandemic level.

While various factors are to blame, a record-setting 3.3% increase in global coal consumption has perpetuated the rise of hazardous emissions.

At COP28, the key message must be conveyed: natural gas is a cleaner and more reliable alternative to coal.

To reach the Paris Agreement's target to limit the rise of global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius, emissions need to peak before 2025 and be reduced by around 43% by 2030. That leaves a short window of opportunity that cannot be achieved without substantive policy redirection.

However, there is a straightforward solution to this challenge – exporting US natural gas can help phase out global coal and drastically reduce emissions. This solution, proven in the US, should play a central role in the worldwide conversation at COP28.

A breakthrough opportunity for the energy industry

In COP's brief history, energy companies have not been included in conversations about solutions to address climate change. But with this year's conference taking place in a major energy-producing region, the industry has an unprecedented opportunity to help advance a low-carbon future.

Sasha Mackler, Executive Director of the Bipartisan Policy Center's Energy Program, agreed that this will likely "lead to some quite dynamic discussion and hopefully some new shared understanding of how the oil and gas industry can be part of the solution when it comes to driving a net zero economy by mid-century."

The good news is the US natural gas industry is already taking critical steps to produce cleaner and more reliable energy.

For the natural gas industry, this means leading conversations about how LNG is not only part of the clean energy future but is critical to its success.

Clean LNG on the world stage

At COP28, the key message must be conveyed: natural gas is a cleaner and more reliable alternative to coal.

Coal consumption is responsible for about 40% of global GHG emissions, and supply chain and geopolitical challenges have caused coal demand to grow by approximately 1.5% in the first half of 2023. China and India have had the most significant increase in coal use, which will account for 70% of the world's total consumption this year.

Meanwhile, the US is producing far less coal and is substantially reducing its emissions. Since 2005, the US has experienced a remarkable 17% decline in GHG emissions by switching from coal to natural gas.

The US must move quickly to deploy natural gas to our allies to reduce coal dependency and lower global emissions. According to Naomi L. Boness, Managing Director of the Stanford Natural Gas and Hydrogen Initiatives, natural gas is critical "both to meeting energy security needs around the world [and replacing] the increased use of coal in places like India and China."

The good news is the US natural gas industry is already taking critical steps to produce cleaner and more reliable energy.

This includes methane abatement, which Paul Bledsoe of the Progressive Policy Institute says is essential in "limiting near-term temperature increases that are causing devastating climate change impacts around the world."

US LNG is also far cleaner and less methane-intensive than notoriously leaky natural gas from countries like Russia.

We need to harness the capabilities of natural gas

While the US has a plentiful supply of natural gas, more infrastructure is needed to ensure our ability to meet demand overseas. The rise of coal production worldwide shows what happens when the US cannot export enough clean and reliable energy.

Global energy security and climate change are on the line, so at COP28, US policymakers must advocate for the export of US natural gas to replace coal and finally prioritize permitting reform at home so we can unleash LNG.

"You actually need adults in the room," says Alex Herrgott, President & CEO of the Permitting Institute. "COP28 needs to be about the practicality of how we harness the technology and capabilities of natural gas to solve the real problems of today."

New Reports Show US Natural Gas Will Be Critical to the Success of Renewable Energy

According to two new reports, natural gas will be critical in transitioning to a clean energy future.

Research by consulting firm McKinsey & Company shows that natural gas has been – and will continue to be – vital to decarbonizing the US power supply while supporting renewables.

Meanwhile, think tank Ember provides evidence that countries like China are overwhelmingly turning to highly polluting coal because of recent shortfalls in renewable energy production, particularly with the decreasing reliability of hydropower.

Fortunately, the US has the resources and the know-how to decarbonize quickly. Since 1990, the US has decreased its CO2 emissions by 8% and can lead the way in helping the rest of the world achieve its climate goals.

By increasing the export of US natural gas abroad via LNG, we can expand a proven decarbonization solution that will smooth the ups and downs of energy reliability as we transition to a renewable future.

… natural gas is more reliable than renewables and helps to phase out the production of environmentally hazardous coal.

The benefits of clean natural gas vs coal

Some environmentalists argue that renewables alone are the only path towards cleaner energy. While the rapid expansion of renewables is a noteworthy success story, renewables have clear limitations, including battery storage and transmission infrastructure problems.

According to the McKinsey report, these challenges are causing renewables to produce only an "intermittent supply" of energy that cannot reliably match growing power demands.

To generate the same amount of electricity as natural gas, solar fields require 10 to 20 times more land, while onshore wind needs up to 200 times more. Overall, significantly more significant investments will have to be made in the power grid to support the rollout of renewables.

At the same time, natural gas is more nimble and can help phase out the production of environmentally hazardous coal.

According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), the use of natural gas in the electric power sector increased by more than 100% between 2005 and 2022, while coal declined by about 55%. This shift from coal to natural gas has contributed to an 18% reduction in energy-related CO2 emissions in the US since 2005.

This shift also reduced an estimated 532 million metric tons of CO2 over that same period, the most significant decarbonization lever to date, mitigating 10% of 2021 US GHG emissions. By comparison, renewable generation led to 248 million metric tons of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) – less than half of what coal-to-gas switching produced.

With China being the world’s largest power producer, accounting for 31% of global generation, the environmental consequences of this rise in coal production will be devastating without a significant course correction.

Natural gas will power the transition to clean energy

The global decline in hydropower demonstrates precisely why natural gas must be a part of the solution for cleaner energy.

Research published by Ember found hydro generation, the largest electricity source among all renewables, fell by a historic 8.5% margin in the first half of 2023 due to adverse conditions. This decline was especially notable in China, which accounted for approximately 75% of the global decrease in hydropower.

China began significantly expanding coal production to make up for the energy deficit. According to the Ember report, China's increase in coal generation between January and June 2023 exceeded 203 terawatt-hours (TWh) compared to that same period in 2022. Natural gas generation increased by just 10 TWh, while hydropower declined by 129 TWh.

With China being the world's largest power producer, accounting for 31% of global generation, the environmental consequences of this rise in coal production will be devastating without a significant course correction. China emits the most energy-related CO2 emissions globally and could remain in that position through 2050 as it doubles down on coal power generation.

Natural gas should fill the deficit left by coal

Fortunately, natural gas provides the ideal solution – a cleaner and more reliable energy source that can make up for the deficit caused by the decline in global hydropower.

According to the EIA, natural gas emits almost 50% less CO2 than coal while producing equal energy. The recent progress in emissions reduction in the US through coal-to-gas switching shows that this is a proven solution that can succeed in other regions, too.

And the US's plentiful natural gas supply means we can lead this movement – securing cleaner, more reliable, and affordable energy for all.