GLNG: Democrats raise concerns with Biden administration over climate impact of LNG

Over 40 Democrat lawmakers have asked the Biden administration to more carefully analyse the climate and environmental justice impacts of the expansion of the LNG industry across the country. The request comes as the US continues to increase its LNG exports and is expected to surpass Australia and assume top position globally in 2023.

In a letter sent on May 8 to the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) chair Brenda Mallory, the lawmakers asked for greater transparency on the climate and environmental justice impacts “from wellhead, through export outside the United States, to combustion,” as the CEQ finalises guidance on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate impact under bedrock US environmental law.

Under the current approval process, LNG projects are given the green light based on the result of a public interest determination. The procedure was put in place during President Donald Trump’s term.

The lawmakers say that the current approval procedure for LNG projects is outdated and fails to account for emissions of methane produced during drilling, which they claim makes LNG exports worse for the environment than coal.