Natural Gas is No Climate Solution
By Deb Nardone, Beyond Natural Gas Campaign Director
On Sunday, February 17, my family and I are attending the Forward on Climate rally to urge President Obama to take action on climate disruption now.
There is no more time to waste. There is no more denying that burning dirty fossil fuels like natural gas is to blame for our superstorms, droughts, and wildfires. We have no time to spare. Only by moving to renewables as quickly as possible can we hope to avoid even worse climate disruption. Yet energy companies are still denying it and continuing to manipulate our government leaders into thinking we have time to reverse the damage that is already done, just by switching to another fossil fuel such as natural gas. Natural gas is not a bridge fuel—it is a gangplank. We must not allow our country to lock into long-term natural gas use when around the globe the potential to develop renewable energy is limitless.
It's clear that the regulations across the country—at the local, state, and federal level—are dangerously inadequate to protect our communities and regulate the natural gas industry. Meanwhile, the president is considering exporting up to 45 percent of natural gas production as liquefied natural gas (LNG). This is one of the largest decisions that will transform the energy landscape, as it would require more fracking to meet foreign and domestic demand. More fracking, more pollution, more communities destroyed—all while the 1 percent reaps the benefits.
But all is not lost—far from it. We are at a critical moment in our energy evolution, where we can leapfrog over natural gas and meet our future energy needs with clean energy sources such as solar and wind. We can demand that President Obama prevent the export of LNG. We can demand that important places be put off-limits to fracking. However, we need strong commitment by our leaders to make that vision a reality—and a strong voice from the grassroots to put the pressure on.
Only the President of the United States has the power to lead an effort on the scale and with the urgency we need to phase out carbon-intensive fossil fuels, prevent LNG exports, and close the crazy loopholes the natural gas industry enjoys—all while paving the way for more energy efficiency and investments in truly clean renewable energy sources that are good for our environment, our health, our communities, and our economy.
On February 17, I will be among the tens of thousands at the Forward on Climate rally to push President Obama to reject any fossil fuel alternatives and jumpstart a clean-energy revolution that can truly make America a leader in sustainable energy. Will you join me?
Momentum is building every day—but we need your help to make sure President Obama hears us loud and clear. So bring your family, your friends, and your neighbors to Washington, D.C., and together we'll make this the largest climate-solution rally in American history.
