Trump is unhinged. He throws around bizarrely high tariffs. He sides with Putin against Europe and Ukraine. He talks openly about invading and occupying other countries. And he and his billionaire pals want to make billions expanding fossil fuels, whatever the cost – or as they put it: ‘drill baby drill’. [1]
First PutinGas, now TrumpGas
Europe is addicted to gas. For our gas, Europe makes deals with authoritarian leaders: first PutinGas and now TrumpGas. That’s why Trump could demand that the EU purchase 350 billion dollars (!) worth of American oil and gas in order to (maybe) get import tariffs off the table. [2] In a panic, our European leaders are threatening to strike a deal with Trump. But if Europe allows itself to be blackmailed into expanding fossil fuels, we will remain chained to climate disasters, human rights violations, and the whims of authoritarian leaders for many decades to come.
What is TrumpGas?
US gas is shale gas extracted using fracking – a very polluting technique. After the gas is transported through pipelines, it is liquefied at the coasts of Texas and Louisiana and then shipped. This way, liquefied gas can be sold worldwide. [3] However, liquefying gas requires a tremendous amount of energy, and in this complex process, leaks of the super greenhouse gas methane are more the rule than the exception. That’s why TrumpGas is just as polluting, and sometimes even more polluting, than coal. [4] Buying more TrumpGas would be a deathblow for the climate.
How do we break free from TrumpGas?
We seem to be living in the wildest dreams of a handful of billionaires. They are setting our world on fire for their profits. But this is also an opportunity. With a fast and fair phase-out plan for gas, we can ensure affordable energy for everyone AND free ourselves from authoritarian leaders who hoard resources. We can free ourselves from the ‘everyone for themselves’ mindset and build a thriving society where we care for each other.
What can I do against TrumpGas?
That’s why we, together with partners across Europe, are joining forces to make sure Europe breaks free from TrumpGas. [5] If we raise our voices loudly, we can let our leaders know they must not let themselves be fooled by Trump. They must invest now in cheap, renewable and secure energy.
Our demands:
- Stop the ongoing build-out of fossil gas and LNG infrastructure.
- Prioritise scaling up energy saving and accelerate the building of cheap, renewable and homegrown energy.
- Start a rapid and fair gas phase-out.
[1] Trump’s ‘drill, baby, drill’ agenda could keep the world hooked on oil and gas (The Guardian)
[2] Donald Trump says EU must buy $350B of US energy to get tariff relief (Politico)
[3] What are LNG exports? (Greenpeace)
[4] Liquefied natural gas carbon footprint is worse than coal (Cornell University)
[5] Our partners: WeMove Europe, Oil Change International en Food & Water Action Europe