We’ve had a few guest posts and comments on our social media channels lately trying to argue that LNG is “dirtier” than coal when it comes to burning these fuels to generate electricity.
Most give no authority for their belief, but some cite a US university study whose author insists that “LNG has a larger greenhouse gas footprint than any other fuel.” He cites “fugitive emissions” — leaks of methane during processing and transportation
But that study has been much challenged, and others find that LNG really is cleaner than burning coal for power generation.
And our BC liquefied natural gas is and will be even cleaner than any LNG tested in the studies.
Let’s start with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. It uses hundreds of world scientists to assess climate-change research and provide reports to policymakers.
It says natural-gas power produces 50% fewer emissions than coal power — even when fugitive methane emissions from natural gas are taken into account. (See section 7.5.1 at https://ow.ly/IeqK50RSMgW)
IPCC says: “Taking into account revised estimates for fugitive methane emissions, recent lifecycle assessments indicate that specific GHG emissions are reduced by one half (on a per-kWh basis) when shifting from the current world-average coal-fired power plant to a modern natural gas combined-cycle (NGCC) power plant.”
The International Energy Agency (IEA) says that, on average, natural gas results in about 35% fewer emissions than coal: https://ow.ly/Z4QO50VOQrv
In an update, the International Energy Agency said more than 99% of the LNG consumed in 2024 had lower lifecycle emissions than coal. It said that, globally, on average, LNG results in about 25% less emissions than coal, and new technology can cut LNG emissions by 60%: https://ow.ly/WFMv50WcSMC
- A study by Rystad Energy: “Natural gas that is produced and liquified in the US and shipped to Asia on return journeys of about 23,000 miles could emit up to 50% less than even the cleanest coal power plants.” https://ow.ly/FSbB50Vy69b
- The Asia Natural Gas & Energy Association finds the average lifecycle carbon intensity for LNG from Australia, the U.S., and Qatar and used for electricity production in three Asian countries was 47% lower than for coal: https://ow.ly/9wwW50WaHQ
- Miami University Ohio: Greenhouse-gas emissions (in the U.S.) dropped 7.5% annually as companies swapped coal for natural gas: https://ow.ly/8ynf50VzCQE
- The U.S. Energy Administration: “Burning natural gas for energy results in fewer emissions of nearly all types of air pollutants and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions than burning coal or petroleum products to produce an equal amount of energy.” https://ow.ly/Y25G50WslvY
- An S&P Global study found that, on average, for each tonne of CO2 emitted when producing and shipping LNG to Asia, more than three tonnes of CO2 emissions are avoided on a lifecycle basis when it replaces coal in power generation: https://ow.ly/tuYO50Wslwj
- Another S&P Global study reported that methane intensity of upstream oil and gas production in the U.S. Permian Basin declined by more than 50% during 2022-2024, thanks to improved operations, better equipment and the utilization of AI and other advanced technologies: https://ow.ly/jjg750WuHuW
- And Wood Mackenzie, a global research and consultancy group for the energy, renewables, and natural-resources sectors, found this: “US LNG full lifecycle emissions delivered to Europe are 48% of the coal equivalent.” https://ow.ly/kRyG50Wsy18
Closer to home, Business in Vancouver reported this from the LNG2023 conference in Vancouver:
“Although natural gas is already cleaner than coal, the oil and gas industry is working to reduce the GHG emissions intensity of natural gas and LNG even further through three main technology approaches: methane abatement, electrification, and carbon capture and storage (CCS).”
That story also included this: “Had it been available, lower-carbon LNG produced in BC could have avoided 600 million tonnes of CO2e between 2020 and 2022, when new coal power plants came online in Asia. That’s nearly the total GHG inventory for all of Canada in a year – 670 million tonnes (MT) of CO2 equivalent (CO2e).”
And the small-c conservative Fraser Institute in BC says: “Doubling Canadian natural gas production and exporting to Asia could reduce global emissions by up to 630 million tonnes—nearly as much as Canada produces in a year.” https://ow.ly/JJoO50WslAy
Coal now accounts for about 45% of global emissions from fuel combustion, according to the IEA.
World consumption of coal hit a record in 2024 of an estimated 8.77 billion tonnes.
The IEA predicts demand will stay close to that level through 2027, then level off.
But Wood Mackenzie says “global coal demand could remain stronger for longer, with coal-fired power generation potentially staying dominant through 2030.” https://ow.ly/nuIb50WsKmp
In Canada, Alberta closed its last coal-fired power plant in 2024. That left three provinces with coal-plants: Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. These are to be slowly phased out.
China, though, burns half the world’s coal, where it accounts for 60% of the country’s electricity generation. India is the No. 2 user of coal. The U.S. is still No. 3, and now President Donald Trump aims to revitalize the U.S. coal industry, pushing increasing domestic production and the use of more coal to generate power to meet soaring demand for electricity.
As for emissions produced by our own LNG plants, here are messages from Canadian LNG developers:
- LNG Canada says its new project emits less than half the greenhouse gas emissions of the average LNG facility currently in operation: https://ow.ly/GNrK50WslE6
- Woodfibre LNG aims to be a net zero emitter by 2027 – 23 years ahead of government net-zero regulation. It thus aims to become the first LNG facility in the world to achieve net zero emissions. It also commits the company to be net zero at site during construction: https://ow.ly/IbuU50WslSP
- The Haisla Nation’s Cedar LNG project, which is under construction, says: “Cedar LNG will be one of the lowest carbon intensity LNG facilities in the world. It will contribute to the displacement of coal as an energy source in Asia . . . contributing to lower overall global emissions.” https://ow.ly/leKe50WslF7
- And the Nisga’a Nation’s Ksi Lisims LNG project not only promises low emissions but also aims to have net-zero emissions by 2030: https://ow.ly/tkim50WslHE
Thumbs up, then, for clean Canadian LNG.
Graphic from Royal Bank of Canada: https://ow.ly/qULh50WslVz
(Posted here 24 July 2025)
