Study claims US LNG imported to Europe may emit more CO2 than coal

In its March 2025 climate report, TotalEnergies dedicated a section to a controversial study by U.S. biogeochemist Robert Howarth, which argues that the carbon footprint of American liquefied natural gas imported to Europe exceeds that of coal. The company, Europe’s top LNG importer, usually promotes the fuel as a necessary transitional energy source toward a low-carbon power system. Howarth’s findings, released in October 2024, have intensified scrutiny over the true emissions of imported LNG, now representing about 60 % of the continent’s supply against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and ongoing Middle-East conflicts.

Adding to the controversy, the European Commission on 29 September signaled a one-year delay in implementing the EU methane regulation designed to improve monitoring and reporting of greenhouse-gas emissions from fossil-fuel imports. The postponement highlights growing doubts about LNG’s role in Europe’s energy mix and climate objectives.