Energy leaders stand by natural gas despite global shift
In a recent gathering in Houston, energy executives defended oil and gas amidst a global push toward ending fossil fuel use, reflecting a clash between traditional energy sources and renewable energy goals.
Phil McKenna reports for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm's call for clean energy investment met with a muted response from oil and gas executives, highlighting industry resistance to moving away from fossil fuels.
- The oil and gas sector is identified as a major emitter of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, yet industry leaders tout natural gas as a clean and necessary energy source for the future.
- International efforts to phase out fossil fuels contrast with the industry's narrative, underscoring the tension between environmental objectives and economic interests.
Key quote:
"While we're driving down CO2 emissions as fast as we can, we can get an immediate reduction in temperatures from what we would otherwise see by driving down methane emissions."
— Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defense Fund
Why this matters:
Energy executives argue that natural gas, which emits less carbon dioxide when burned compared to coal or oil, plays a critical role in ensuring energy reliability and supporting renewable sources like wind and solar, which are intermittent by nature. Critics see this stance as a means to prolong the life of fossil fuel industries at a time when scientists and environmental advocates stress the urgency of cutting emissions to prevent the most catastrophic impacts of climate change.
