Green LNG Dream

摘要

The carbon-neutral LNG trend is spreading.Europe has just imported its first carbon-neutral cargo.In Japan,15 buyers have banded together to promote the greener fuel.And fearing pushback from potential customers,developers in the US plan to track and reduce emissions,with export pioneer Cheniere intending to introduce carbon emissions tags for every cargo next year.A number of factors are behind the push-suppliers'own corporate targets,government carbon rules or policies,and Asian end-user requirements.But pitfalls abound.To ensure carbon neutrality,LNG suppliers can cut their own carbon emissions,and/or buy credits from carbon offset projects or invest in projects directly.But who decides which projects qualify? Carbon-neutral pioneer Royal Dutch Shell maintains that a rigorous internal screening process ensures the projects it invests in and buys from are certified under credible,independent standards.But offsetting is controversial.Critics question its effectiveness and warn that expansion could have damaging social and environmental consequences.