Greenpeace Activists Block U.S. LNG Tanker In Germany To Stop Fossil Fuel Imports

A group of 22 Greenpeace activists from Belgium, Germany, and Poland blocked a U.S. LNG tanker from reaching Brunsbüttel, Germany.

The activists used kayaks and other floating objects to create a blockade in the waters, holding up a massive 100-meter banner that read “Gas destroys – Stop fossil gas.” Their protest came with a clear message asking the German government and the European Union to stop relying on fossil fuels, especially U.S. LNG.

It was the first U.S. liquefied natural gas shipment to Germany since the U.S. presidential election. Greenpeace has strongly opposed Europe’s increasing dependence on U.S. fossil fuels, saying it’s a step backwards in the fight against climate change.

Mira Jaeger, an energy expert with Greenpeace, expressed concern that turning to U.S. LNG would only prolong Europe’s reliance on fossil fuels. She called for urgent action to shift to renewable energy.

The main issue Greenpeace has with US LNG is its production process, specifically fracking. This method, which injects high-pressure fluid into underground rock formations to release gas, is banned in several European countries because of its harmful environmental and health impacts. Despite Germany banning fracking in 2017, it still imports large amounts of LNG from the US.

Greenpeace says that US LNG is even more harmful to the environment than coal, especially in terms of climate change. John Noël, a deputy director at Greenpeace USA, pointed out that increasing LNG exports only benefits large oil and gas companies while raising energy prices for ordinary people.

He added that the international community should avoid purchasing US LNG, as it contributes to further environmental damage.

The protest also brought attention to the impact of the LNG industry on local communities in the US. Travis Dardar, a fisherman from Louisiana, shared his frustration with the industry’s harm to his community.

“This tanker represents the harm to my community. It’s poisoning our families and ruining our way of life,” he said.

Anne Rolfes, the director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, an environmental group, reiterated Dardar’s concerns. She said that LNG export projects not only harm local communities but also exacerbate climate change.

“LNG is not the clean energy solution people think it is,” she said. “It’s harming both the environment and the people living in the areas where it’s being extracted.”

Reports reveal that EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen may consider increasing LNG imports from the US to avoid tariffs from President-elect Donald Trump.

However, Greenpeace and other environmental groups argue that relying on US fossil fuels only delays the transition to renewable energy sources.

A recent report also raised questions about the necessity of more LNG import terminals in Europe, suggesting that many of these new facilities could remain underused by 2030.

Greenpeace calls for an immediate halt to the construction of new fossil fuel projects and a stronger focus on renewable energy.

“This protest is a wake-up call for Europe,” said Dardar. “We have to stop supporting fossil fuels that destroy our planet and our health. It’s time to invest in a clean, green future.”

Reference: Greenpeace

Source: Maritime Shipping News