While much of the discussion at this year’s COP28 climate summit focused on ambitious climate goals and renewable energy solutions, there was a refreshing focus on a more immediate method for lowering global emissions: exporting American natural gas to large, developing nations.
Experts agreed that natural gas facilitates the lowering of emissions while maintaining energy affordability and strengthening U.S. national security. However, the Biden administration has recently indicated a renewed hostility toward liquefied natural gas exports, convening a special panel of experts to reshape U.S. policies, which could result in an indefinite pause on all permitting approvals for LNG infrastructure projects.
Shutting down the U.S. LNG industry would be a massive misstep. LNG exports are driving large parts of our economy, helping to fortify our nation’s energy security, and delivering climate solutions as the cleanest, most accessible fuel on the market. LNG itself emits 40% less carbon dioxide than coal, making it an efficient solution to international climate goals.
Here in the U.S., we’ve taken the production of LNG by storm, harnessing our nation’s bountiful natural resources to supply our nation and our partners abroad with affordable energy. In 2023, U.S. exports of LNG set a record high in the first half of the year, and several more export facilities are on the horizon, such as Venture Global’s CP2, Energy Transfer’s Lake Charles LNG, and Sempra’s Port Arthur LNG.
If the U.S. government increases support for these projects, 2024 could be the year we reach new highs for U.S. LNG exports. These new opportunities uplift local economies, generate essential tax revenue, and create jobs, all while reducing emissions not only here in the U.S. but abroad. As energy needs and demand continue to rise, the U.S. should be aiming to unleash the potential of LNG and continue to be a leader in delivering dependable, clean energy globally.
This form of energy is especially important as coal consumption continues to increase. According to the International Energy Agency, global coal usage was expected to peak in 2023, surpassing a record of 8.5 billion tons. However, while consumption from advanced economies such as the European Union and the U.S. dropped usage by around 20%, demand in emerging and developing economies remains strong.
Large Asian nations such as India and China are significant contributors to the increased use of coal. Right now, China is permitting new coal power plants at a pace of two new plants per week. Meanwhile, India, the world’s second most populous country in the world and the third-largest energy consumer in the world after China and the United States in 2021, uses fuels such as coal, wood, and biomass, emitting 2.83 billion tons of CO2 in 2022 alone.
In 2020, coal continued to supply most (44%) of India’s total energy consumption. As India’s population, industry, and energy needs continue to grow, the nation’s global coal consumption has also risen, increasing 8% in 2023.
Important discussions at COP28 focused on this growing problem of global emissions and acknowledged and highlighted natural gas as a simple solution. The United States has a large role to play in aiding this transition by exporting our clean natural gas to countries such as India which are eager to adopt cleaner fuels. The Indian government has set a goal to increase the share of natural gas in the country’s total energy mix to 15% to reduce air pollution and increase usage of cleaner-burning fuels. India also plans to invest $60 billion directly into LNG distribution infrastructure in an effort to connect 70% of the country’s population to the natural gas grid.
While too many of the climate policies discussed at COP28 could put global energy supply in jeopardy and negatively affect U.S. energy security, investing in natural gas adoption presents a win-win for exporting and importing countries. The administration should embrace LNG exports to bolster U.S. energy security, grow our economy, and lower global emissions. President Joe Biden must set aside misguided plans to block LNG exports in favor of a rushed energy transition that will only leave our economy, national security, and energy security vulnerable.
America has the ability to use our country’s gifts for the well-being of the world and become a global leader in the pursuit of reducing emissions — now is the time to use them.
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James “Spider” Marks is a retired U.S. Army major general and strategic adviser to the GAIN Coalition.
