(Washington, DC) – Amidst the backdrop of record coal use around the world in countries like China and India, Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future is commemorating Earth Day with a video message featuring former Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH) and former U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA); the leaders implore urgent recognition of natural gas as a partner to renewable energy in securing a clean energy future.
“There’s no better time to acknowledge natural gas as the most pragmatic solution to achieving a clean energy future,” said Congressman Tim Ryan. “We’ve been celebrating Earth Day for over 50 years, but we should be asking ourselves, ‘What will the next 50 years look like if we don’t commit to making a serious change?’”
Leaders like U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry have said unless China contains its expected growth in coal use, there’s nothing any other country can do to prevent the world from seeing temperatures rise above 1.5 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, American natural gas companies have highlighted the ability to ramp up natural gas production quickly and move energy around the world so growing economies use cleaner natural gas, rather than coal, to make electricity and fuel industry. It’s a successful and proven carbon reduction strategy that the United States has employed since 2005, which accounts for approximately 60 percent of all carbon emission reductions in that time.
“Reducing carbon emissions is a global effort, and it needs to be a year-round focus,” said Senator Mary Landrieu. “The easiest step we can take to meet our climate targets is to displace the use of coal worldwide. The United States has an opportunity to ramp up natural gas exports and provide an affordable and reliable source of energy to countries that are still relying heavily on coal.”
The late Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-WI) founded Earth Day in 1970, garnering national public support for environmental protection legislation and conservation initiatives. Since then, the annual celebration has taken root around the world and, according to the Earth Day Network, is celebrated by over 1 billion people every year.
Natural Allies is committed to advancing initiatives aimed at expanding natural gas domestically and globally to lower greenhouse gas emissions quickly and accelerate our path to a clean energy future, while ensuring stable, reliable, and affordable energy.
About Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future
Natural Allies is a 501c4 not for profit organization that seeks to better inform the public and policy makers about why natural gas is best partnered with renewable power sources to accelerate our clean energy goals. Among the industry leaders supporting Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future are: The Williams Companies, Kinder Morgan, TC Energy, EQT, National Fuel Gas, Enbridge Inc., Quanta Services, Inc., the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, International Union of Operating Engineers, Pipe Line Contractors Association, American Pipeline Contractors Association, Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) and the INGAA Foundation. To learn more visit: naturalalliesforcleanenergy.org.
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