Global Natural Gas Demand Rose in 2018; Trend Could End Hope for Climate Stability

Washington, D.C. – Today, the International Energy Agency (IEA) revealed that demand for natural gas grew 4.6% in 2018, driven in part by the continued development of the international gas trade. Meanwhile, a report released this week from Food & Water Watch demonstrated exactly how the fracking industry is manufacturing inflated global demand for gas by promoting new petrochemical/plastics production and more liquid natural gas exports.

In response, Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter issued the following statement: 

“The IEA’s cheerleading of fracked natural gas as some type of global climate solution is foolish and false. Science confirms that gas is a climate killer, as methane is almost 90 times more potent a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. This is a fact.

“Our new report shows that the power, petrochemical and LNG export industries are propping up the fracked gas industry by manufacturing bloated demand for its dirty product, all with the help of government subsidies and intervention. The time has come to end the madness by ending artificial economic support for the fossil fuel industry, and investing aggressively in truly clean, renewable energy sources like wind and solar. The future of our planet depends on it.”

Contact: Seth Gladstone - sgladstone[at]fwwatch[dot]org, 917.363.6615