Study raises questions over extent to which LNG exports would benefit environment
CALGARY — A new study is raising questions about the degree to which exports of Canadian liquefied natural gas would help reduce carbon emissions abroad — a core justification for developing such an industry.
The C.D. Howe Institute released a report Wednesday that concluded that Canada’s LNG exports could reduce carbon emissions in parts of Asia, but would likely increase emissions in the majority of other potential markets.
The development of LNG exports requires power to cool it into a liquid, as well as energy for the tankers that would ship it overseas so that it can be used in gas-fired power plants.
LNG exports would still reduce overall emissions if they replace coal and oil-fired power production in China, India, Japan and Taiwan, study authors James Coleman and Sarah Jordaan said. But they found that emissions would likely go up in Canada’s nine other likely export markets because those countries have greater supplies of renewable and lower-emission power sources.