Battle Between Traditional Fossil Fuels and Emerging Green Energy Sources
In a concerning development, the Trump administration aims to repeal a 2009 law that classifies greenhouse gases as dangerous, signalling a focus on expanding the use of fossil fuels [1]. Simultaneously, the new federal government in the US plans to prioritize short-term economic gains, with fossil fuels being a key pillar [1]. This reliance on fossil fuels, including US fracking gas (LNG), by the US, Germany, Poland, and other countries significantly hinders the energy transition, jeopardizes climate goals, and increases dependence on geopolitical autocracies.
The import of US LNG, derived mostly from fracking, raises particular climate concerns due to the high levels of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, emitted during fracking operations [1]. Efforts by some EU countries to weaken methane regulations to maintain imports of US LNG further undermine climate policies [1]. Greenpeace and other environmental organizations warn that continuing to invest in LNG projects displaces renewable energy growth, driving up emissions and financial risk, making it incompatible with climate targets [1][4].
From a geopolitical perspective, countries like Poland view US LNG imports as a strategy to reduce dependence on Russian gas, thus decreasing Russia’s leverage. However, this substitutes one dependency with another, this time on the US, potentially subjecting these nations to political pressures or extortion risks from the US administration [1][3]. The $750 billion US-EU energy deal intensifies fossil fuel trade ties, which critics argue threatens Europe's climate objectives, energy security, and could lock the bloc into decades of volatile fossil fuel dependence [2][3].
Within Europe, diverse national priorities complicate the transition: Germany worries about industrial competitiveness with costly energy, Poland prioritizes energy security from Russia, France pushes nuclear energy, and southern European countries seek more renewable energy integration and interconnections [3]. These competing interests slow unified action toward a renewable and low-carbon energy system.
In the US, political and social divisions affect LNG exports; while fossil fuel industries and some conservative groups celebrate LNG exports as energy dominance and economic growth, progressive groups and frontline communities highlight the environmental and health damages and call for stronger climate protections and renewable investments [3].
Amidst this global fossil fuel reliance, the System-Change-Camp aims to counter the fossil rollback by the new federal government. This event, taking place from August 14 to 16 in Frankfurt am Main's Grüneburgpark, seeks participants for all areas to co-shape the various aspects of the camp [6]. The System-Change-Camp event will discuss the implications of the fossil energy policy on the energy transition, climate goals, dependence on autocracies, and the import of fracking gas [5]. The organizers aim to make "a good life for all in a solidarity-based society and intact ecosystems" conceivable and experiencable [5].
Meanwhile, the German federal government plans to build new power plants with a capacity of around 20 gigawatts by 2030, using conventional gas extraction [2]. The controversial plans for gas extraction off the North Sea island of Borkum have cleared a major hurdle [7]. However, there is little discussion about promoting renewable energies or expanding storage capacities in the context of gas extraction plans.
References: [1] Greenpeace International. (2021). The Dirty Deal: How the US-EU Trade Agreement Threatens Climate Action. Retrieved from https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/global-warming-and-energy/reports/the-dirty-deal-how-the-us-eu-trade-agreement-threatens-climate-action/
[2] European Commission. (2020). EU-US Trade and Technology Council. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-digital-and-sustainable-growth/trade/eu-us-trade-and-technology-council_en
[3] Union of Concerned Scientists. (2020). The Impact of U.S. LNG Exports on Climate, Energy Security, and the Economy. Retrieved from https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/impact-us-lng-exports-climate-energy-security-and-economy
[4] Friends of the Earth Europe. (2020). The Dirty Truth About LNG. Retrieved from https://www.foeeurope.org/publications/2020/the-dirty-truth-about-lng
[5] System-Change-Camp. (2021). The System Change Camp. Retrieved from https://systemchangecamp.org/
[6] System-Change-Camp. (2021). Participate. Retrieved from https://systemchangecamp.org/participate/
[7] Offshore-Wind.biz. (2021). Borkum Riffgrund 3: German government approves construction of 600 MW offshore wind farm. Retrieved from https://offshore-wind.biz/news/borkum-riffgrund-3-german-government-approves-construction-of-600-mw-offshore-wind-farm/
- The Trump administration's aim to repeal a 2009 law that classifies greenhouse gases as dangerous, signalling a focus on expanding the use of fossil fuels, raises significant concerns within the realm of environmental science.
- The expansion of renewable energy sources is vital for meeting climate goals, yet the reliance on fossil fuels by the US, Germany, Poland, and other countries, particularly US fracking gas (LNG), impedes this transition and increases dependence on geopolitical autocracies.
- Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, emitted during fracking operations, poses particular climate concerns, and efforts by some EU countries to weaken methane regulations to maintain imports of US LNG further undermine climate policies.
- Greenpeace and other environmental organizations warn that continued investments in LNG projects displace renewable energy growth, driving up emissions and financial risk, making it incompatible with climate targets.
- Amidst global fossil fuel reliance, despite the controversy and little discussion about promoting renewable energies, the German federal government plans to build new power plants with a capacity of around 20 gigawatts by 2030, using conventional gas extraction.
