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Key Findings

The gas industry is misleading government, investors, customers and the broader population about the amount of carbon dioxide and methane emissions being released during production, supply and distribution of both conventional or ‘natural’ gas and its product for export – liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Executive Summary

IEEFA notes:

  • Conventional or ‘natural’ gas is a fossil fuel.
  • Conventional or ‘natural’ gas is predominantly methane, and methane is released through gas leakages all along the supply chain, and during production and via transport to your home or business.
  • Gas leakages are much worse in the production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for export.
  • Methane emissions from conventional or ‘natural’ gas have been seriously underestimated by between 25 - 40%, with some studies claiming emissions have been underestimated by as much as 60%.
  • Methane poses the greatest threat to the warming climate. If you leak more than 2% or 3% of methane, it is worse for the climate than coal. Methane survives in the atmosphere for a shorter period than coal’s carbon dioxide, but over 20 years has 86 times the planet-warming potential. Electricity produced from LNG is arguably even worse over a 20-year time frame.

Bruce Robertson

Bruce Robertson has been an investment analyst, fund manager and professional investor for over 36 years. He has worked with Perpetual Trustees, UBS, Nippon Life Insurance and BT. He has appeared as an expert witness before a number of government enquiries into energy issues.

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