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LNG exports: America’s hidden ​‘climate bomb’

If growth continues, U.S. emissions from LNG exports could rival emissions from the continent of Europe. Bill McKibben and other guests discuss.

On The Carbon Copy podcast this week:

In less than a decade, America has become the world’s top exporter of liquefied natural gas. 

In the mid-2000s, the U.S. was building terminals to import more fossil gas. But that all changed after the fracking boom unlocked vast reserves of hydrocarbons. The U.S. became a net exporter in 2017. Then, Russia’s war on Ukraine forced a scramble for new supplies of gas in Europe — and American companies stepped in.

The consequences: a historic push for new LNG export terminals, a vast new source of heat-trapping gases that could wipe out U.S. climate gains, and a growing conflict over how the government approves new LNG infrastructure.

We’re joined by Bill McKibben, author, organizer and founder of Third Act; Nicole Pollack, a contributing writer at Canary Media; and Jeremy Symons, analyst, political strategist and principal at Symons Public Affairs.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

  • Canary Media: Nicole Pollack’s deep dive into the controversies over FERC approval of LNG exports
  • Canary Media: LNG exports are a​‘really, really big’ climate threat, McKibben says
  • New Yorker: Bill McKibben’s article on Robert Howarth’s latest research on LNG emissions
  • Jeremy Symons’ recent research on how LNG exports are causing U.S. emissions to rise

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The Carbon Copy is supported by FischTank PR, a specialized climatetech PR firm dedicated to bringing meaningful results for companies in sectors spanning grid edge, solar, energy storage, battery, EVs, alternative fuels, VC and green building. FischTank helps clients stand out in an increasingly competitive and noisy space. Visit FischTank PR to learn more.