Canada could reduce the equivalent of all of its carbon emissions if it leads the charge in helping Asia replace 20% of its reliance on coal-fired plants with liquified natural gas (LNG), according to Energy for a Secure Future Chair Shannon Joseph.
Joseph told the outlet EnergyNow.ca that LNG remains the country’s “biggest card” in tackling emissions internationally.
“Canada could help deliver 680 megatonnes of emissions reductions, and that’s more than our whole country,” Joseph said.
“We should do it and shout it from the rooftops. We should move forward with LNG as an energy and emission solution.”
Joseph argues that the federal government should do more when it comes to promoting clean Canadian energy as a solution instead of a problem of climate change.
“We need to assert, confidently, the environmental value we would be delivering to the world,” said Joseph.
“If Canada wants to be relevant and to lead, we have to come to the table with solutions to this question, alongside the environmental one. LNG is our biggest card.”
According to Joseph, Canada is letting down its allies and giving space to competitors to fill the world’s energy needs, running the risk of falling behind during a crucial opportunity.
“Canada’s allies have come here asking for energy, and we should work directly with them to find a way to have our environmental contributions recognized,” said Joseph.
The United States has massively upped its LNG exports from 28,381 Million Cubic Feet in 2015 to 3,865,643 Million Cubic Feet last year.
Last year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau turned down German Chancellor Olaf Scholz request for Canadian natural gas claiming that such a deal lacked a “business case.” Germany and other European countries have been scrambling to find alternative sources of energy in order to reduce reliance on Russian energy following its invasion of Ukraine.
The United States has largely stepped in where Canada has faltered. According to the International Energy Agency, the global market for LNG doubled last year reaching $450 billion.
US exports accounted for two-thirds of Europe’s imports that same year totalling 43 billion cubic metres.
Earlier this month, industry leaders at the Vancouver LNG 2023 conference called on Canada to take the lead when it came to supplying the world with energy.
