Gas Gone Global: LNG 101 - RMI

This fact sheet by RMI explains the liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply chain, the United States' role as a leading exporter, and the environmental and economic impacts associated with the liquefaction and transport of gas over long distances.

• The United States has transitioned from having essentially no LNG exports in 2016 to becoming the world's top LNG exporter, surpassing countries such as Russia and Qatar. This growth is linked to the shale gas boom driven by horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Planned new terminals could potentially double US LNG export capacity in the coming years.
• LNG production and transport are associated with significant environmental and health risks, primarily through methane leakage and the energy-intensive nature of liquefaction and re-gasification. Methane is noted as having over 80 times the heating power of carbon dioxide in the short term. A methane leakage rate of just 0.2 percent in the supply chain can result in net greenhouse gas emissions comparable to those of coal.
• There is a strong correlation between the distance LNG travels and its emissions intensity due to 'boil off' and leakage. For example, shipping LNG from the US to Asia releases approximately 0.2 tons of CO2 equivalent per ton of cargo, which is double the rate of 0.1 tons of CO2 equivalent per ton for shipments from the US to Europe.
• Increased LNG exports may impact domestic US energy costs. A US Department of Energy study suggests that if US LNG exports triple by 2050, Henry Hub natural gas prices could increase by 25 to 30 percent, potentially straining households while increasing the cost advantage of battery storage and renewable electricity.
• Methane emissions can be reduced through strategic interventions such as prohibiting routine flaring and venting, implementing routine monitoring, and using satellite verification. RMI utilizes the Oil Climate Index plus Gas (OCI+) to quantify and compare emissions intensities across global oil and gas assets.

APA

RMI (2026). Gas Gone Global: LNG 101 - RMI. https://rmi.org/resources/gas-gone-global-lng-101/

Chicago

RMI. Gas Gone Global: LNG 101 - RMI. 2026. https://rmi.org/resources/gas-gone-global-lng-101/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Gas Gone Global: LNG 101 - RMI |date=12 January 2026 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/gas-gone-global-lng-101/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2026gas, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Gas Gone Global: LNG 101 - RMI}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2026}, month = jan, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/gas-gone-global-lng-101/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }