Climate Groups Demand Halt to Cork Fracked Gas Projects

A coalition of international climate activist groups released a letter today demanding that the Port of Cork cancel its arrangement with NextDecade to build fracked gas infrastructure in the Cork harbour.

Brussels — A coalition of international climate activist groups released a letter today demanding that the Port of Cork cancel its arrangement with NextDecade to build fracked gas infrastructure in the Cork harbour. 

The letter — which was signed by groups such as Food & Water Europe, 350.org, Friends of the Earth, Better Path Coalition, Oil Change International, Food & Water Action, Not Here Not Anywhere, FracTracker Alliance, Extinction Rebellion Ireland, Environment Texas, Cork Climate Action — points out that approving fossil fuel projects that will last for decades is incompatible with global efforts to combat the climate crisis. The lifespan of a project like Cork LNG is at least 30 years, which would increase Ireland’s dependence on fossil fuels and slow the development of renewable energy projects.

NextDecade plans to build a floating gas storage unit and a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal import terminal. The fracked gas would originate in the United States, where fracking has been linked to an array of health problems and water contamination. 

Methane emissions at every point of the fracking process are tied to the overall increase in greenhouse gas emissions that are driving the climate crisis. New LNG exports will spur additional fracking, as 80% of the increased exports from the United States will come from new fracked wells. Recent research shows that this gas is 40% more damaging to the climate than coal.

The Cork facility is one of two currently proposed highly controversial LNG import terminals in Ireland.

In 2017, the Republic of Ireland banned fracking on health and environmental grounds. A growing international movement is pressuring the Irish government to block fracked gas projects as well, citing the ongoing concerns about the impact of the drilling on local communities. 

Read the letter.

Contact:

Andy Gheorghiu, Policy advisor, Food & Water Europe, email: [email protected], mobile: +49 160 20 30 974