Natural gas has been promoted as a green energy source to reduce carbon emissions from power generation and help mitigate climate change. However, natural gas is still a fossil fuel and, unlike renewable energy technologies, emits greenhouse gases when burned. While the need for natural gas as a transition fuel is recognised by many scientists, its classification as a clean energy source encourages further investment in fossil fuels, leading to infrastructure lock-in and continued dependence on fossil fuels. In addition, unaccounted methane leaks during the extraction and transport of natural gas significantly reduce the mitigation potential of the fuel compared to other fossil fuels.
Natural gas as a transition fuel
Natural gas has been promoted as a green energy source to reduce carbon emissions from power generation and help mitigate climate change. However, natural gas is still a fossil fuel and, unlike renewable energy technologies, emits greenhouse gases when burned. While the need for natural gas as a transition fuel is recognised by many scientists, its classification as a clean energy source encourages further investment in fossil fuels, leading to infrastructure lock-in and continued dependence on fossil fuels. In addition, unaccounted methane leaks during the extraction and transport of natural gas significantly reduce the mitigation potential of the fuel compared to other fossil fuels.
Nº 87
- Climate & Atmosphere
- Energy Emission Reduction
- Promotion of Natural Gas
some attempts made
past case
Region-1
Region-2
Region-3
Region-4
ongoing case
no attempts made
Natural gas as a transition fuel
The European Union has established a taxonomy of sustainable finance to encourage private capital to flow into renewable energy systems. Within this framework, natural gas can be classified as sustainable under certain conditions. However, critics argue that this classification perpetuates dependence on natural gas and creates financial commitments that hinder the transition to alternative energy sources. As a result, the energy transition may be delayed.
- Facilitated the efforts to address the initial problem; Frustrated the efforts to address the initial problem
- Cascading (far-reaching effects following each other); Multilple (effects disconected from each other)
Khan, M. (2022). EU faces down critics over green investment label for gas and nuclear power. Financial Times. Available at https://www.ft.com/content/0acb5e0f-8322-413f-911d-fda09951ea99. Accessed on 25-03-2023.
UNEP. (2023). Is natural gas really the bridge fuel the world needs?. https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/natural-gas-really-bridge-fuel-world-needs. Accessed on March 6th 2023.
Questions/comments