Nearly 150 environmental justice organizations urged the Biden administration to drop discussions with global energy companies about standards for certified natural gas, a type of fuel marketed as climate-friendly by producers but criticized by critics as undermining the transition away from fossil fuels.As part of its efforts to replace Russian gas amid the ongoing conflict …
Nearly 150 environmental justice organizations urged the Biden administration to drop discussions with global energy companies about standards for certified natural gas, a type of fuel marketed as climate-friendly by producers but criticized by critics as undermining the transition away from fossil fuels.
As part of its efforts to replace Russian gas amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the United States has engaged in gas certification negotiations with energy businesses and international politicians.
The Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, Gas Leaks, and other environmental organizations said that the debates are a distraction from President Joe Biden’s vow to transition to cleaner energy sources and harm public health.
While gas burns cleaner than other fossil fuels, its principal component is the potent greenhouse gas methane, which can escape into the atmosphere – a major gripe from environmentalists.
For years, gas producers have attempted to market certified gas at a premium, relying on third-party certifiers to demonstrate that the fuel was produced and transported in environmentally friendly methods.
However, a lack of clear standards for monitoring and confirming emissions across the supply chain has hampered low-carbon gas markets. Certifiers interpret data using conflicting measurement methods and methodologies.
Brad Crabtree, a Department of Energy official, spoke privately with corporations on the topic in March and told Reuters that regulations are needed since the “downside of all the innovation and creativity is that it also is very chaotic.”
The Differentiated Gas Coordinating Council, an industry body attempting to make certified gas a viable choice for fulfilling climate targets, did not reply immediately to a request for comment.
Scientists have long warned that climate change, generated primarily by greenhouse gas emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels, could increase the frequency, severity, and lethality of heat waves. They argue that countries must dramatically reduce emissions to avoid a climate disaster.
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