Proposed gas strategy is a gamble with the climate

If I wear a funny hat and call myself ”natural” maybe no one will realise that I am fossil? Flickr.com / clarkmaxwell CC-BY-NC-ND

The EU, Norway and Russia are all promoting fossil gas as a long-term clean and sustainable energy solution. “There’s no such thing as clean gas”, says Friends of the Earth Europe.

The European Parliament voted in October 2016 in favour of a EU strategy to promote LNG and gas storage. The decision, likely influenced by big oil and gas corporations according to FoE Europe, will lock Europe into decades of fossil fuel use, and open the doors to carbon-intensive imports like shale gas – which can be as harmful for the climate as coal. Antoine Simon from FoE Europe said: “There’s no such thing as clean gas – it’s a fossil fuel with climate-killing carbon and methane emissions. They’re playing Russian roulette with the climate, and completely ignoring the implications of the Paris Agreement for our energy sector.”

The European Parliament prioritises subsidies for, and investments in, dirty fossil gas, and the infrastructure required for them, to the detriment of renewables and energy efficiency. The emphasis on liquefied natural gas (LNG) encourages further imports of gas to the EU. Antoine Simon continued: “This decision opens the door to carbon-intensive fracked gas, especially from the US, which is linked to devastating local environmental and social impacts. Europe urgently needs to transition away from fossil fuels towards community-owned renewables and energy efficiency.”

Norway is also promoting fossil gas. It wants other countries to leave their coal and oil in the ground to meet new global climate change targets, but its industry is planning to increase production of its own fossil fuels, says the British newspaper The Guardian.

The Norwegian oil and gas association argues “if Europe were to replace coal with Norwegian natural gas, this would result in a 50 per cent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions for every unit of energy produced. We produce gas with low emissions, which can replace coal with high emissions.” Despite the Paris agreement to cut global emissions and oil prices falling to under $30 a barrel, Europe’s biggest oil and gas producer intends to expand production in some of the riskiest and most environmentally sensitive areas like the Lofoten Islands and the Arctic Ocean north of Norway.

“The government is hypocritical and in denial over Paris. It does not think it is any brake on oil. They say our oil is cleaner and that the EU needs us. Meanwhile it is lobbying in Europe against stronger energy efficiency laws. There seem to be no limits on the Norwegian oil industry. They want to keep on expanding,” said Silje Lundberg, of Friends of the Earth Norway.

Norway intends to reduce emissions by 30 per cent by 2020 and 40 per cent by 2030. However, it is one of very few wealthy countries to have increased emissions since 1990. State statistics bureau SSB has stated that Norway’s oil industry accounted for 27 per cent of all carbon emissions in Norway in 2013. Annual emissions from oil and gas production have increased by 91 per cent since 1990.

Russia and other countries are also promoting the building of new gas pipelines in the north-east and south-east of Europe. Critics like the NGO network Bankwatch and FOE Europe argue EU funding for the Southern Gas Corridor energy project would undermine EU climate change targets. The European Investment Bank (EIB), which is owned by European Union member states, is about to provide the scheme with up to €3 billion.

Natural gas comprises a substantial percentage of human carbon emissions, and this contribution is projected to grow. According to IPCC, fossil gas produced about 5 billion tons a year of CO₂ emissions, while coal and oil produced about 10 billion tons each (2005). According to emission scenarios by 2030, fossil gas would be the source of around 11 billion tons of CO₂ emissions a year.

AirClim argues that all use of fossil fuels including fossil gas must be phased out in Europe by 2030. This should be Europe’s contribution to give the world a chance to stay below 1.5°C of global warming while giving developing countries more time to phase out their fossil fuels by 2050 at the latest.

Compiled by Reinhold Pape

Source: FOE Europe press release, 25 October 2016, https://www.foeeurope.org/winter-package-russian-roulette-climate-251016

The Guardian, Norwegian industry plans to up fossil fuel production despite Paris pledge, 29 January 2026, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/29/norwegian-industry-p...

IPCC AR https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/

See also AirClim report from March 2016: Phasing out fossil gas, by Fredrik Lundberg http://airclim.org/publications/reports

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IMO confirms 2020 date

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Editorial: Global sulphur cap in 2020

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End derogations for polluting coal plants

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A Europe powered only with renewable energy

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Initiative to boost soil carbon

In Paris an initiative called “4 per 1000” was signed by 25 countries, with the aim to protect and increase carbon stocks in soil and to develop accounting and safeguard criteria.

Multiple actions needed to reduce food emissions

Reducing consumption of meat, dairy and eggs by three quarters in the EU will lead to reductions of 44 per cent in greenhouse gas emissions from the food sector, but other efforts are also needed to reach a 2-degree target.

Climate target for agriculture

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Air pollution costs trillions

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Germany’s slow decarbonisation

Germany must still eliminate 145 Mt of annual greenhouse gas emissions to achieve its 2020 climate target, 16 per cent below current levels.

Proposed gas strategy is a gamble with the climate

The EU, Norway and Russia are all promoting fossil gas as a long-term clean and sustainable energy solution. “There’s no such thing as clean gas”, says Friends of the Earth Europe.

Phasing out fossil fuel power is essential

The EU should seize the opportunity to replace ageing and end-of-life coal-fired plants with renewable energy sources.

Unique oppurtunity for Ukraine

The changed geopolitical situation in Ukraine has led to an energy crisis, and the country is now at a crossroads: sticking with coal and nuclear power or investing in renewables?

Greening transport with more electric vehicles

A large scale roll-out of electric cars on EU roads would result in significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions and lower levels of certain air pollutants.

New diesel cars still emit up to 15 times too much NOx

Over four in five Euro 5 diesel cars produce more than three times their laboratory limit value for NOx when driven on the road, and two-thirds of Euro 6 diesel cars still emit more than three times their limit.

European emission trends updated

Overall air pollutant emissions keep on slowly shrinking – sulphur emissions show the biggest reductions, while there is much less improvement for ammonia and particulate matter.

Industry does not need CCS

Swedish steel group SSAB, the country’s top CO₂ emitter, foregoes CCS. It opts to replace coal with hydrogen. The cement industry and refineries also show low-CO₂ potential soon, and without CCS.

NOAA: Reefs are boiled to death

The soaring temperature of the oceans is the “greatest hidden challenge of our generation”and global coral bleaching continues for a third year due to global warming.

Main menu

Proposed gas strategy is a gamble with the climate

In this issue

IMO confirms 2020 date

Editorial: Global sulphur cap in 2020

End derogations for polluting coal plants

A Europe powered only with renewable energy

Small is beautiful

Initiative to boost soil carbon

Multiple actions needed to reduce food emissions

Climate target for agriculture

Air pollution costs trillions

Germany’s slow decarbonisation

Proposed gas strategy is a gamble with the climate

Phasing out fossil fuel power is essential

Unique oppurtunity for Ukraine

Greening transport with more electric vehicles

New diesel cars still emit up to 15 times too much NOx

European emission trends updated

Industry does not need CCS

NOAA: Reefs are boiled to death

Publications

Food for Thought

Northern forests, climate change and the UNFCCC

EU climate targets aligned with the Paris agreement’s 1.5°C objective

Baltic Sea Offshore Wind Collaborative-Learning project

Air pollution in Europe and children’s health

Climate Change: A Himalayan Odessey

No further discussion needed. The agreed global goal is to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C

Fossil-free electricity 2021

What we do

Air pollution

Climate Change

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