By John Ikani
In a major blow to environmental advocacy group – Friends of the Earth, a UK court has ruled against their appeal to halt government financing for a liquefied natural gas project in Mozambique.
The group had argued that the UK government’s decision to provide up to $1.15 billion in funding for the project in Cabo Delgado, northeast Mozambique, did not sufficiently consider the country’s obligations under the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Expressing its displeasure over the court ruling on the project spearheaded by French energy giant TotalEnergies, Friends of the Earth said it was “extremely disappointed” by the decision and will consider taking the case to the Supreme Court.
“The climate crisis is intensifying with record-breaking heatwaves and devastating floods and droughts, and countries like Mozambique are at the forefront of these impacts,” said Rachel Kennerley, international climate campaigner at the group.
The ruling is seen as a victory for the government and the energy industry, as it allows the controversial project to move forward despite opposition from environmental groups.
However, it also highlights the ongoing debate over the balance between economic development and protecting the environment.
How much does Liquefied Natural Gas contribute to global warming?
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is a fossil fuel, and when it is burned, it releases carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.
However, LNG is considered to be a cleaner-burning fossil fuel than other forms of natural gas because it has lower emissions of air pollutants such as sulfur and particulate matter.
Additionally, LNG can be transported by ship, which allows for greater flexibility in terms of where it can be used.
It is important to note that the total amount of global warming caused by LNG depends on many factors, including the efficiency of the equipment used to produce, transport, and consume the LNG, as well as the source of the natural gas.
If natural gas is extracted through fracking, it could be associated with a higher environmental footprint than if it is extracted conventionally.
Overall, LNG is a lower-emitting fossil fuel than coal or oil but still contributes to global warming and climate change.
