Authored by Paul Everingham via RealClearEnergy, The U.S Government could do far worse than to look to Australia’s natural gas policy as it considers the future of LNG exports. Gas production from the U.S. and Australia is essential to global energy markets. Australia was the world’s leading LNG exporter in 2020 and 2021, a mantle the U.S. assumed in 2023. But the LNG industry in both countries has faced great policy uncertainty in recent times. In the U.S.
This runs the risk of creating a future shortfall of low-carbon gas, forcing economies in Asia back to coal or creating energy insecurity. Important climate objectives won’t be achieved if Asia’s growing coal use becomes even more entrenched. Global coal use reached record levels in 2023, with three out of every four tons consumed in India, China and Southeast Asia.