LNG: Poison pollution peddled as solution
LNG is a false climate solution with dire consequences
While the majority of us struggle to make ends meet amid surging climate catastrophes, polluting industries are peddling liquified "natural" gas—also sold as LNG or methane gas—as a solution to the climate and affordability crises. Let's be clear: LNG is a poison pill peddled as a solution.
It’s the billionaires and fossil fuel executives who will profit from the LNG build-out—at the expense of your health, safety, and bank account. If we want affordable, reliable energy that protects our health and communities, we need renewables—not LNG. Solar and wind create good, local jobs, cut energy bills, and clean up our air and water.
Fossil fuels are not inevitable—especially if we rise up to resist them. Even as the Trump regime and his Big Oil buddies rush to line their pockets with more expensive, polluting energy, the clean energy transition is unstoppable. Communities around the world are stepping up to accelerate climate action and resist fascism and fossil fuel dependence alike.
Let’s build a future powered by clean energy, not corporate greed.
Funded by Big Banks
The gas industry can’t build toxic new facilities without billions of dollars in financing. Most of this funding comes from major banks, who provide loans directly to fossil fuel companies and also help them sell bonds to investors (i.e. underwriting).
Banks collectively provided 213 billion USD to new and expanded methane gas production from 2021 to 2023, according to research from Reclaim Finance.
New LNG projects are not only a bad bet for the climate and community health, they are a risky bet for investors and financiers. Banks and other financiers should take heed and pull out of this toxic industry before it’s too late.
Fossil Gas Poisons Communities
Methane gas isn’t only bad for our climate, it is deadly for communities living on the fencelines of polluting facilities. At every stage, methane gas produces and leaks toxic gases linked to respiratory illnesses, strokes, heart disease, and cancer.
If all planned LNG export terminals and expansion projects in the U.S. were built, they would cause an estimated 149 premature deaths each year.
When it comes to LNG export terminals specifically, Black Americans are projected to experience up to 70% more air pollution from proposed terminals than white Americans.
Methane gas is 80 times more potent over a 20-year span than carbon dioxide.
What is Liquefied "Natural" Gas?
LNG is methane gas that's been supercooled into a liquid at -260°F (-162°C) that takes up 600 times less space, so that it can be shipped via tankers to other countries. While in transit, LNG tankers may need to vent methane gas to avoid explosions, unleashing dangerous climate pollution along the way. Once it reaches its destination, LNG is turned back into a gas and used for heating, electricity generation, and other uses.
There is nothing clean about LNG
The gas industry wants you to think of LNG as a “clean”, “natural” energy source—but that’s a dangerous lie.
The Methane Menace
LNG is primarily methane—a potent greenhouse gas (GHG), and the second largest contributor to climate change after carbon dioxide (CO2). It also traps more heat than CO2—over 80 times more over 20 years, and 28 times more over 100 years.
Fracked Gas Rebranded
U.S. LNG is mostly fracked gas by another name. In 2022, 87% of U.S. “natural gas” was produced via shale or tight gas, which is gas trapped in microscopic pores in rock formations deep underground that is extracted via hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.
The Next Pollution Wave
Fossil fuel oligarchs have long been looking for ways to fight their inevitable retirement as the world transitions off of dirty energy. Now, they are turning to the maritime industry—from cruise ships to international cargo, and everything in between—to prolong their pollution regime.
Countering the LNG Lies
In a bid to line their own pockets at our expense, the gas industry is pushing propaganda to convince you that LNG is good for affordability and our climate. Here’s the truth.
LNG Lie: LNG is a clean source of energy.
Fact: LNG is primarily methane gas, which is a potent greenhouse gas. Even worse than “conventional gas”, the extraction, processing, and shipping of LNG are all emissions-intensive, making it worse than coal.
LNG Lie: LNG will lower prices for consumers
Fact: U.S. LNG exports are linked to increased residential gas prices—yet the Trump regime is pushing for more gas exports to Europe, which would worsen the squeeze. Exporting U.S. LNG makes domestic gas subject to global price shocks, such as when gas prices skyrocketed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
LNG Lie: Exporting LNG to Asia reduces use of coal
Fact: LNG is not replacing coal in China or India’s power mix—but renewables are rapidly increasing their share. LNG is simply too expensive and too volatile to compete with cheaper and reliable alternatives, including renewables.
LNG Lie: Europe needs U.S. LNG
Fact: While European LNG imports did spike following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, they’ve since fallen as Europe commits to transitioning to renewable energy sources. The Trump regime is attempting to bully the EU into buying more U.S. LNG, but Europe simply does not want more expensive, climate-polluting gas.
LNG Lie: LNG facilities are good for communities
Fact: LNG terminals create very few long term jobs (most are temporary construction jobs), while the jobs they do offer mostly go to white workers. The facilities are often owned by global fossil fuel giants whose executives export the profits along with the gas, leaving communities behind with the health consequences.
LNG Lie: LNG Tankers are safe
Fact: LNG has a history of fires and explosions at terminal sites, and planning to fill up tankers that leak pollution straight into the atmosphere on their journey across the largest Ocean in the world is not only a poor plan for pollution prevention, it can also put communities at risk.
Stop Funding the Methane Menace: Tell Banks to End LNG Expansion!
Sign the petition today to tell banks to stop funding the LNG boom and invest in a healthy, sustainable future instead.
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