Tankers shipping U.S. LNG emit more greenhouse gases than all the country's electric cars can offset

A single year of emissions from U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports by ship outweighs the climate benefits of every electric vehicle on American roads, according to a new analysis.

Phil McKenna and Peter Aldhous report for Inside Climate News.

In short:

Between 2017 and 2024, annual emissions from LNG tankers surged from 4.1 million to 18.4 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent, driven by a fivefold increase in voyages.
Most emissions stem from methane leaks during shipping, especially from poorly loaded auxiliary engines, making the process more polluting than widely assumed.
The Trump administration has greenlit several new LNG projects, even as global shipping regulations tighten and concerns grow about the full lifecycle emissions of exported gas.

Key quote:

“Shipping emissions are not really taken into account by either the exporting country or the importing country.”

— Alison Kirsch, senior energy analyst, Sierra Club

Why this matters:

Methane — the core component of natural gas — is a potent greenhouse gas, packing 80 times more warming power than carbon dioxide over a 20-year span. While it dissipates faster, its short-term punch makes it a prime target in the fight to slow global warming. The growing trade in liquefied natural gas has long been sold as a cleaner alternative to coal, but shipping it across oceans reveals an underappreciated climate toll. From fracking fields to foreign ports, every step leaks gas, with tankers releasing methane through a phenomenon known as “methane slip.” These emissions often go unmeasured, thanks to a regulatory blind spot over international waters and the technical challenges of satellite monitoring at sea. The industry’s unchecked growth raises questions about whether gas can truly serve as a “bridge fuel” in the transition to clean energy, or if it simply paves a longer road of fossil fuel dependence.

insideclimatenews.org

Tankers shipping U.S. LNG emit more greenhouse gases than all the country's electric cars can offset

Trump’s cuts have exposed US to ‘cascade’ of El Niño dangers, experts warn

‘Hybrid weapon of war’: Why climate disinformation could be a growing public health threat

New Mexico off track for 2030 greenhouse gas goal, environment official says

Why whales are climate heroes — who also need our protection

As extreme heat worsens, renters are gaining a 'right to cooling'

Alaska Senate candidates rarely mention climate change, but they talk a lot about fish

Conservative climate movement faces a blue wave wipeout

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.