US demands EU reverse new climate rules to allow surge in gas imports | Trump administration

The United States has demanded that the European Union roll back climate and human rights rules to allow more imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) after the Trump administration approved a controversial gas export hub off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

Joint letter sent by the USA and Qatar two out of three The world’s biggest LNG exporter has warned the EU that its new rules pose an “existential threat” to European economies because they would block gas imports from countries like theirs.

According to the letter, the EU should either completely repeal or significantly reduce the new rules, known as the corporate sustainability due diligence directive. The directive, which will be debated by EU lawmakers next week, requires gas exporters to the 27-nation bloc to show they protect human rights and cut planet-warming emissions or risk hefty fines.

“Its implementation could jeopardize current and future investment, employment and compliance with recent trade agreements.” the letter states. “There is little debate that natural gas and LNG will remain a critical energy source and an important part of the EU’s energy mix for decades to come.”

The letter is the Trump administration’s latest move to ensure the world remains reliant on fossil fuels by not only increasing fossil fuel use on US soil but also targeting countries’ climate laws. In a meeting with British prime minister Keir Starmer in July, Trump called turbines “ugly monsters” and a “scam” and called on Britain to extract more oil and stop wind power.

During the same trip, the EU agreed to buy $750 billion of US oil and gas by 2028 to replace fuels from Russia, but the validity of that deal is in question. A subsequent visit to Europe by US energy secretary Chris Wright also highlighted the administration’s hostility to climate action; Wright called net zero policies a “giant train wreck” and the Paris climate agreement “stupid.”

LNG is gas that is cooled, loaded onto ships and sent abroad to be burned. Long championed by its proponents as a relatively clean fuel, recent research calls this into question. According to the research, LNG could be even worse than coal for the climate when transportation of the gas is taken into account.

A new LNG infrastructure frenzy is building in the US, with the Trump administration vowing to speed up approvals to help its “energy dominance” agenda. Scientists have been clear that the United States and the rest of the world must quickly transition away from fossil fuels to prevent catastrophic global warming.

On Wednesday, Trump’s energy department announced it had provided final export approval for Venture Global’s CP2 project, a major LNG terminal planned off the Louisiana coast. Once built, the terminal will be able to export up to 3.96 billion cubic feet of LNG per day abroad.

As an extension of Venture Global’s existing LNG operation, CP2 will emit approximately 190 million tonnes of greenhouse gases per year, the equivalent of pollution from 54 coal-fired power plants. single analysis.

“In less than 10 months, President Trump’s administration is redefining what it means to unleash American energy by approving record new LNG exports,” said Kyle Haustveit, assistant secretary of the Energy Department’s fossil energy office.

According to Mike Sabel, CEO of Venture Global, CP2 should be completed by 2027. “Venture Global is grateful for the Trump administration’s final approval of CP2, a critical project that will supply low-cost LNG to American allies for decades, support thousands of jobs, and greatly benefit the U.S. balance of trade,” Sabel said.

The Trump administration lifted a previous pause on new LNG terminals coming online during Joe Biden’s term, even though the Energy Department determined that gas exports would raise energy prices for American households.

The CP2 building has also raised concerns about its impact on the local community of coastal Cameron Parish in Louisiana, which has long had to deal with pollution, noise and the impacts of the fossil fuel industry on fishing.

“LNG exports are increasing the cost of Americans’ energy bills, causing disaster for communities like Cameron County, increasing public health harms and perpetuating the climate crisis,” said Mahyar Sorour, a Sierra Club campaigner.

“It’s terrible that while everyday Americans are suffering, the Trump administration’s solution is to promote projects that will deepen that suffering in order to make big oil and gas executives richer.”