Economic Risks of Canadian LNG Expansion: Case studies from Australia and the United States

On Sept. 11, Prime Minister Mark Carney listed LNG Canada Phase 2—which is intended to double the export capacity of Canada’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility—as a project of “national interest.”

Canada’s federal and provincial governments have already committed billions of dollars in public funding for new LNG exports. IISD’s recent research estimates that the governments of Canada and British Columbia are directing CAD 3.93 billion to West Coast LNG projects. This includes: CAD 1.62 billion in public finance and CAD 151.95 million in infrastructure funding from the federal government. The BC government is providing CAD 2.16 billion by the end of 2030 through foregone revenue, reduced electricity rates, and investment in enabling infrastructure. 

However, the experiences of Australia and the United States demonstrate why doubling down on fossil fuel exports comes with significant drawbacks.

In this webinar, international energy experts from Canada, Australia, and the United States will use case studies from their countries to explore the economic risks of expanding LNG exports.

They will share research showing how investment in LNG can undermine clean energy opportunities while delivering limited economic benefits.  

This is the second webinar of a two-part series considering the risks associated with Canada’s subsidized LNG exports. The previous instalment quantified Canada’s public support for the LNG industry and explained the energy security risks for potential importers like India and Germany.

Agenda

Welcome

Steven Haig, Policy Advisor, International Institute for Sustainable Development

Presentations

Ian Sanderson, Senior Policy Analyst, Pembina Institute

Mark Ogge, Principal Advisor, Australia Institute

Shannon Baker-Branstetter, Senior Director, Domestic Climate and Energy Policy, Center for American Progress 

Q&A

Conclusion