Statement by Alex Walker, Energy Analytics Program Manager, Environmental Defence
Toronto | Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – Today’s announcement of one of Canada’s largest and most polluting gas megaprojects, to be built in Quebec, is a blow to Canadians. It comes as Canadians are suffering through a summer marked by devastating air pollution, evacuation orders, floods and dangerous heat waves. With the impacts of the climate crisis getting worse every year, we are far past the point where we should be building new fossil fuel projects.
The global LNG market is facing a turning point. Europe wants energy security, but it won’t come from Canada locking itself into a decade-long buildout of expensive LNG infrastructure. Renewable energy is cheaper than ever, and countries are increasingly investing in domestic clean energy that doesn’t leave them vulnerable to price shocks and geopolitical chaos. That’s the real path to energy security, not more gas.
Background
- Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is mostly made of methane, which is a greenhouse gas that can create effects exceeding 100 times the warming effect of carbon dioxide.
- Methane has contributed two-thirds as much warming as CO₂ since the Industrial Revolution.
- Countries in Asia are cutting LNG imports and building out cheaper and secure renewable energy in replacement.
- More than 300 billion cubic meters per year (bcm/yr) of new LNG export capacity is expected to come online by 2030, increasing global supply by almost 50 per cent.
- Analysts warn the global LNG market will become oversupplied by 2030.
- For more information on LNG, see our backgrounder here.
ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.
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For more information or to request an interview, please contact:
Midhat Moini, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca
