As planet heats, U.S. ramps up fossil fuel production, casting a shadow on COP28 climate goals

December 1st, 2023

Awake Goy

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In a year predicted to be the hottest on record, the United States is paradoxically on track to achieve record-breaking levels of fossil fuel production. This surge comes at a critical time when international efforts are intensifying to curb greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts a significant expansion in North America’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity, nearly doubling from 11.4 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) to 24.3 Bcf/d by 2027. This growth is fueled by new projects across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

2023 is set to witness the United States reaching unprecedented heights in oil and gas production, defying United Nations climate goals. Projections show a record 12.9 million barrels of crude oil per day, a staggering increase compared to a decade ago. This boom in fossil fuel production directly contrasts President Joe Biden’s warnings about the escalating climate crisis.

In addition to oil, gas production is also hitting new peaks. The Gulf of Mexico, already a hub for oil and gas activities, is poised to facilitate a boom in U.S. LNG exports. The government anticipates this high level of oil and gas production to persist until 2050, a timeline alarmingly misaligned with the scientific consensus on emissions reduction.

Despite global efforts to reduce fossil fuel dependency, the United States, the world’s top oil and gas producer, is moving in the opposite direction. This trajectory raises serious concerns, especially with the upcoming COP28 summit in Dubai, where the European Union and other nations are advocating for a fossil fuel phaseout. UN Secretary General António Guterres has emphasized the need for Cop28 to mark the end of the fossil fuel era.

However, the U.S.’s burgeoning fossil fuel production casts doubts over such ambitions. Michael Lazarus, a senior scientist at the Stockholm Environment Institute, highlights the disconnect between U.S. production plans and global climate goals. The nation’s commitment to continued oil and gas extraction until 2050 starkly contradicts the urgent need for emissions reduction.

Despite targeting net-zero emissions by 2050 and anticipated declines in coal production, the U.S.’s actions in the oil and gas sectors remain a point of contention. At Cop28, countries will confront the stark reality of the U.S.’s expanding fossil fuel production, a trend that jeopardizes collective efforts to limit global temperature rise.

Under Biden’s administration, the U.S. has made significant strides in climate policy, notably through the Inflation Reduction Act, which bolsters clean energy investment and electric vehicle sales. New pollution regulations and international agreements, including a renewed commitment with China, reflect the U.S.’s efforts to address climate change. However, the rapid expansion of domestic oil and gas drilling has raised alarms among scientists and Biden’s allies, fearing it could undermine global warming mitigation efforts.

Critics argue that the U.S.’s approach to climate leadership is undermined by its continued support for fossil fuel projects. Senator Jeff Merkley expresses skepticism about the U.S.’s ability to lead fossil fuel phaseout discussions at Cop28, citing the nation’s position as the top global producer.

Environmental justice concerns have also emerged, with disadvantaged communities disproportionately affected by polluting infrastructure. Jerome Foster, a member of the White House environmental justice advisory council, voices disappointment in the Biden administration’s mixed record on climate action, particularly in the context of its commitments to younger generations.

At Cop28, the U.S. delegation, led by climate envoy John Kerry, faces the complex task of reconciling the nation’s fossil fuel-driven economy with global ambitions for a non-emitting future. This challenge highlights the tension between current energy realities and the imperative for transformative climate action.

The commitment to fossil fuel phaseout remains contentious and uncertain within the voluntary Cop process. Following a 2021 agreement to phase down coal use, subsequent developments, like the UK’s approval of a new coalmine and China’s continued coal plant construction, underscore the difficulty in actualizing such commitments.

For the fossil fuel industry, Cop28 does not signal an immediate end to oil and gas extraction. Industry leaders, including Exxon’s Darren Woods, advocate for focusing on emissions reduction rather than targeting the oil and gas sector itself.

In conclusion, as the world convenes at Cop28, the U.S.’s escalating fossil fuel production poses a significant challenge to global climate goals. While advancements in renewable energy offer a glimmer of hope, reconciling the entrenched fossil fuel industry with the urgent need for emissions reduction remains a formidable task, one that will shape the trajectory of global climate action in the years to come.