Liquefied natural gas produces more carbon pollution than coal Study reveals

A recent study has unveiled startling findings about liquefied natural gas (LNG), revealing that it generates more carbon pollution than coal, often regarded as the dirtiest fuel source.

The US has become the largest exporter of LNG, with global production capacity expected to surge in the coming years. The Cornell University study indicates that when accounting for processing and transport, LNG's carbon emissions are 33 per cent greater than those of coal, as reported by the Cornell Chronicle, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Approximately 50 per cent of LNG's pollution is attributed to carbon dioxide and methane released during its production, shipping, and storage, according to Robert Howarth, the study's author and a professor of ecology and environmental biology at Cornell. While liquefying natural gas allows for long-distance transportation via tanker ships, it comes at a significant environmental cost. Although modern LNG tankers are more fuel-efficient than older models and produce less carbon pollution than steam-powered ships, they still emit methane from their exhaust.

Since methane is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in terms of its ability to warm the planet, as Howarth explained, it can trap a significant amount of heat in the atmosphere—especially given that nearly 800 LNG tankers were operating globally by the end of 2023, according to Statista. "So liquefied natural gas will always have a bigger climate footprint than the natural gas, no matter what the assumptions of being a bridge fuel are," Howarth stated. "It still ends up substantially worse than coal." Why are these findings troubling? Dirty fuels like coal, oil, and gas are the main contributors to rising global temperatures, accounting for nearly 90 per cent of all carbon emissions and 75 per cent of all heat-trapping gas pollution, as reported by the United Nations. 

Transitioning to cleaner energy sources such as wind, solar, and geothermal is essential for reducing the Earth's temperature. However, the global LNG market is projected to see a 40 per cent increase in production capacity as more projects come online—marking the fastest growth rate in the industry's history, according to a report from the Institute for Energy Economics & Financial Analysis. The US and Qatar are expected to play significant roles in this expansion. While this may benefit the economy, increasing dirty fuel production threatens to undermine climate objectives and heighten the risk of severe weather events for communities. 

By Naila Huseynova