Today, the European Parliament approved the US-EU trade deal. This is bad news for Europe’s energy transition and security. Comments by US ambassador to the EU Andrew Puzder make clear that failing to support the deal could mean losing ‘favourable’ access to LNG supplies, a warning that exposes Europe’s growing dependence on U.S. gas. These threats come at a time of rising gas prices resulting from the US-Israel war in Iran.
If this trade agreement is informally coupled to LNG purchases [1], it is of great benefit to U.S. fossil fuel corporations. A promise to buy more U.S. LNG will lock the EU into fossil gas for decades more and further incentivise a weakening of the EU Methane Regulation. Recent reporting by investigative climate NGO ARIA indicated that the EU Commission is considering revising its methane emissions standards after pressure from the U.S. gas industry.
Climate strategist at Friends of the Earth Europe Julie Zalcman said
“Europe should resist US imperialism and Trump’s bullying trade tactics. Replacing Russian gas by dirty US LNG will not deliver European energy security and diverts us from the transition we all need. Europe must quickly phase out fossil gas, develop renewables and reduce its overall energy demand.”
This outrage is echoed by a broad coalition of over 50 civil society organisations, which have jointly warned that the deal would come at the expense of climate action, democracy and European sovereignty.
Note
[1] The European Parliament vote covers the tariff part of the deal – not the $750 billion energy imports part. That’s because MEPs can’t force companies to buy – or not buy – U.S. LNG. However, a vote in favour of the text implies approval of the $750bn imports, and thus send a vital political signal on EU energy policy
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Gas
Stopping climate breakdown means keeping all fossil fuels in the ground – including gas. Governments and banks must stop financing gas pipelines and terminals which would lock us into a fossil-fuel future.
