US Demands EU Reverse Climate Rules Amid LNG Surge
The US has issued a warning to the European Union (EU), urging it to roll back its climate and human rights rules in order to allow for an increase in liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports. The move comes as the Trump administration approves a new LNG export hub along the Gulf of Mexico coast, which could lead to a surge in gas imports from countries such as Qatar.
The EU's corporate sustainability due diligence directive, set to be debated by EU legislators next week, requires gas exporters to show they protect human rights and cut their planet-heating emissions. The US and Qatar have jointly sent a letter to the EU, warning that the new rules pose an "existential threat" to European economies, which could hinder imports of gas from countries like theirs.
The directive's implementation is seen as having little debate over being able to jeopardize existing and future investments, employment, and compliance with recent trade agreements. The US and Qatar claim natural gas will remain a critical energy source in the EU for many decades, highlighting its importance to their economic interests.
This move aligns with the Trump administration's efforts to boost fossil fuel use on US soil and ensure global reliance on these energy sources. During his July visit to Europe, Trump urged the UK to drill more oil and halt wind energy, branding turbines "ugly monsters" and a "con job".
The EU has agreed to purchase $750 billion of US oil and gas by 2028, but its viability has been questioned. The US Energy Secretary, Chris Wright, has called net zero policies a "colossal train wreck" and the Paris climate agreement "silly", highlighting the administration's hostility towards climate action.
LNG research has revealed that when transportation is taken into account, it can be even worse for the climate than coal, making fossil fuels an increasingly unpalatable option. Despite this, the US continues to push forward with new LNG infrastructure projects, aiming to achieve "energy dominance".
The final export approval for Venture Global's CP2 project, a vast planned LNG terminal on Louisiana's coast, has been announced by Trump's energy department. Once built, the terminal could export up to 3.96 billion cubic feet of LNG per day, equivalent to 190 million tons of greenhouse gases annually.
Critics argue that this would only deepen suffering for local communities like Cameron Parish in Louisiana, where pollution and noise have long been a concern. The Sierra Club's Mahyar Sorour condemned the project, stating that "big oil and gas executives" will reap profits from it at the expense of ordinary Americans.
The US has issued a warning to the European Union (EU), urging it to roll back its climate and human rights rules in order to allow for an increase in liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports. The move comes as the Trump administration approves a new LNG export hub along the Gulf of Mexico coast, which could lead to a surge in gas imports from countries such as Qatar.
The EU's corporate sustainability due diligence directive, set to be debated by EU legislators next week, requires gas exporters to show they protect human rights and cut their planet-heating emissions. The US and Qatar have jointly sent a letter to the EU, warning that the new rules pose an "existential threat" to European economies, which could hinder imports of gas from countries like theirs.
The directive's implementation is seen as having little debate over being able to jeopardize existing and future investments, employment, and compliance with recent trade agreements. The US and Qatar claim natural gas will remain a critical energy source in the EU for many decades, highlighting its importance to their economic interests.
This move aligns with the Trump administration's efforts to boost fossil fuel use on US soil and ensure global reliance on these energy sources. During his July visit to Europe, Trump urged the UK to drill more oil and halt wind energy, branding turbines "ugly monsters" and a "con job".
The EU has agreed to purchase $750 billion of US oil and gas by 2028, but its viability has been questioned. The US Energy Secretary, Chris Wright, has called net zero policies a "colossal train wreck" and the Paris climate agreement "silly", highlighting the administration's hostility towards climate action.
LNG research has revealed that when transportation is taken into account, it can be even worse for the climate than coal, making fossil fuels an increasingly unpalatable option. Despite this, the US continues to push forward with new LNG infrastructure projects, aiming to achieve "energy dominance".
The final export approval for Venture Global's CP2 project, a vast planned LNG terminal on Louisiana's coast, has been announced by Trump's energy department. Once built, the terminal could export up to 3.96 billion cubic feet of LNG per day, equivalent to 190 million tons of greenhouse gases annually.
Critics argue that this would only deepen suffering for local communities like Cameron Parish in Louisiana, where pollution and noise have long been a concern. The Sierra Club's Mahyar Sorour condemned the project, stating that "big oil and gas executives" will reap profits from it at the expense of ordinary Americans.
LNG's bad for climate, but we're still gonna push forward with these projects. meanwhile EU's just trying to do their part for the planet... feels like a lose-lose situation to me 
the EU is trying to regulate their own emissions and protect human rights, but the US is all "nope, let us in and we'll make sure you're energy dominant" 
meanwhile, LNG research shows it's like, way worse for the climate than coal... like, what's next? importing pollution? 
i mean i was expecting us to be leading the world on climate change stuff but now we're basically trying to drag eu down with us? like remember when obama was all about clean energy and saving the planet? what happened? it's just weird how trumps fossil fuel days are kinda mirroring bush Jr's era... anyway, this whole thing is super sketchy. net zero policies aren't even a joke anymore 
. I mean, have they considered the impact on local water sources and wildlife? We cant just drill and extract without thinking about the consequences 
. The EU's rules arent perfect, but at least theyre trying to do something about climate change 
. it's not fair that big oil companies get to reap all the profits while regular people suffer. we need more sustainable solutions, like renewable energy sources! 
. And Trump's still spewing his toxic rhetoric about wind turbines? He needs a reality check, stat 
. I'm so done with politicians using "existential threat" as a scare tactic to get what they want... it's just code for "we're gonna screw the planet and you'll be fine" 
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. Like what even is the point of having a climate agenda if we're just gonna screw it for some short-term gains? 
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... meanwhile they're just trying to screw over the environment for their own interests. 
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. I mean, have you seen the research on LNG transportation emissions? 
. And let's be real, "energy dominance" just sounds like a fancy way of saying we're going to pollute the planet as much as possible 
! The US is trying to strong-arm the EU into rolling back its climate rules because they're worried about losing out on a sweet LNG deal 
. Like, come on guys! We need to be protecting our planet, not just our bottom line 
. And what about the communities that will be affected by all these new gas infrastructure projects? Poor Cameron Parish in Louisiana is already dealing with pollution and noise issues 
. We need to be thinking about the future of our planet, not just the profits of big oil and gas execs