Climate Change > Dutch carbon footprint now much larger due to American LNG replacing Russian pipeline gas

 

Netherlands faces increased climate impact

from U.S. LNG imports

The Netherlands' growing reliance on liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States has led to a sharp increase in the climate impact of its natural gas consumption, according to new data from Energie Beheer Nederland (EBN). Although the U.S. now supplies 27 percent of the gas used in the Netherlands, it is responsible for 66 percent of the total greenhouse gases emitted during gas extraction and transport,Trouw reports.

In recent years, the Netherlands has increased its import of LNG after the discontinuation of Russian pipeline gas and the depletion of the Groningen gas field. The majority of this LNG now comes from the U.S., a country that has become a significant exporter of fossil fuels. However, experts caution that the climate consequences of importing U.S. gas are much higher than those of domestic or other foreign sources.

"The import of gas has serious consequences that are not being fully acknowledged," said Dion Huidekooper, spokesperson for EBN. "This issue is often overlooked in public and political debates."

While burning natural gas for energy emits CO2, the environmental impact is greater earlier in the supply chain. The extraction of shale gas in the U.S. is particularly problematic, as it releases large amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Additionally, the liquefaction and transport of the gas requires significant energy, contributing further to CO2 emissions.

Jilles van den Beukel, an expert at the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS), emphasized that the Dutch government does not fully consider the climate impact of imported gas. "Consumers may make more informed choices when buying products like organic or Fairtrade, but the government does not apply the same scrutiny to its gas imports," he said.

Because the emissions from gas extraction in the U.S. do not count toward the Netherlands' national emissions targets, the country can meet its climate goals while ignoring the larger environmental cost of the gas supply chain. "It matters whether the gas comes from Groningen, Qatar, or the U.S.," said van den Beukel.

Dick van Dam of the Planbureau voor de Leefomgeving (PBL) argues that the Netherlands must take responsibility for the full climate impact of the gas it imports. "When the Netherlands pays millions for gas from halfway across the world, it must also account for the consequences," he said.

Hiske Arts from the advocacy group Fossielvrij NL criticized the government's approach, saying the Netherlands is taking a "head in the sand" approach by reducing domestic gas use while increasing imports of U.S. LNG. "We think we're doing well by using less gas, but by shifting to American LNG, we might end up increasing overall emissions," she said.

Despite these concerns, it is unlikely that Dutch Climate Minister Sophie Hermans will change course on gas imports. She is focused on meeting the country's climate goals within a coalition that is resistant to spending more on climate policies.

There is some hope, however, as the European Union is working on new regulations that could reduce the climate damage associated with LNG extraction and transport. The effectiveness of these regulations, and how much authority the EU will have over exporting nations, remains uncertain.

Van den Beukel pointed out that Europe’s reliance on fossil energy from countries like Russia, Qatar, and the U.S. has left the EU vulnerable. "Each supplier has its own issues—Russia with the war, Qatar with human rights concerns, and the U.S. with climate impact," he said. "But the EU still needs this gas and has few alternatives, weakening its bargaining power."

The Netherlands may see an increase in U.S. LNG imports under a future U.S. administration, as President Trump is expected to push for more profit from fossil fuels. While President Biden's administration promised to reduce methane emissions in the gas industry, it remains to be seen whether Trump will continue those efforts.

Van Dam argued that this situation highlights the need for the Netherlands to accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. "LNG is expensive, makes us dependent, and is harmful to the climate," he said. Fossielvrij NL views the new data as yet another reason for the country to rapidly phase out natural gas use.