New Cornell study about LNG prompts statement by Green Party leader

BC Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau has criticized NDP and BC Conservatives for supporting expanding liquefied natural gas (LNG) developments, citing a new study from Cornell University.  The study suggests that exporting natural gas may have a more detrimental impact on global climate change than coal.

Both John Rustad and David Eby want to expand fracking and drag us backwards into the fossil fuel era,” she said.  “This study shows how expanding the LNG industry, which is reaping billions in subsidies from this government, would make climate change even worse. Their claims that LNG is a ‘transition fuel’ is the worst form of greenwashing.”

She emphasized that the LNG industry receives significant government subsidies but will worsen climate change. Furstenau dismissed claims that LNG is a “transition fuel,” calling it “the worst form of greenwashing.”

“This latest study is just another example of how they’re both ignoring climate science and the need to build a clean economy. John Rustad likes to say that BC’s domestic emissions won’t change the weather. But this study shows how exporting more fracked gas from BC would be hugely detrimental to global emissions,” she said.

“The reality is that climate change and extreme weather events are huge drivers of the affordability crisis, from things like increased insurance costs, supply chain disruptions and increased food prices. On top of that, global price instability of natural gas is a huge driver of our current budget deficit. The world is waking up and transitioning off fossil fuels. We need to go all in on building a renewable, knowledge-based economy so that we can seize the opportunities from this transition, not double down on the sunset industries that are making our climate and affordability crises worse.”