Canada has decided against providing subsidies for future liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects, including the electrification of ongoing ones, as stated by Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson during a television interview on Sunday.
Nations such as Greece, Germany, and Japan have shown interest in importing Canada’s LNG amidst a halt in the expansion of American LNG exports by the United States.
Wilkinson highlighted the importance of utilizing clean electricity for LNG production to achieve the 2030 goal for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The federal government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has set ambitious objectives to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, demanding that new LNG ventures also achieve net-zero emissions within the same timeframe.
Trudeau has pointed out the economic challenges associated with exporting LNG to Europe from Canada’s Atlantic coast and stressed the necessity of decarbonizing the global energy supply as a measure against climate change.
The decision by U.S. President Joe Biden to halt the expansion of American LNG exports has intensified calls from environmental groups for British Columbia and the Canadian government to adopt similar measures, though mirroring this action poses political challenges.