Cheniere Energy Advocates for U.S. to Stay in Paris Climate Agreement

(Reuters) — Top U.S. LNG exporter Cheniere Energy on Tuesday came out in favor of the United States remaining in the Paris climate agreement and complying with methane emissions restrictions, cautioning the incoming Trump administration against reversals.

President-elect Donald Trump's transition team has prepared executive orders to withdraw for a second time from the climate treaty that commits countries to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

RELATED: Trump Prepares to Withdraw from Paris Climate Agreement, NYT Reports

"We are supporters of the Paris agreement. We are supporters of the methane rule," Cheniere Vice President Anatol Feygin said, referring in the latter case to the European Union's methane limits on oil and gas imports that would be placed on U.S. LNG beginning in 2030.

Cheniere has invested over $45 billion in building LNG facilities and it believes that reducing emission will ensure natural gas plays an important role in the energy transition, said Feygin.

"This is one of the key ways we extend the runway for many decades for this product," he said at a webinar hosted by asset management company Tortoise Capital. The company wants an LNG industry that has "good actors" who continue to drive down emissions.

Cheniere likes clear rules of engagement and while it was not a fan of the Biden administration's permitting pause it is very supportive of the Department of Energy (DOE) reviews, he said.

"If this is done in the right way it is in the public interest," Feygin said.

ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods said at the United Nations COP29 climate summit that the U.S. should not exit the Paris climate agreement.

"A second U.S. exit from the Paris climate agreement will have profound implications for the United States' efforts to reduce its own emissions and for international efforts to combat climate change," ExxonMobil said in a statement.

The company also advocated for staying in the accord in 2017, before Trump withdrew the nation from the landmark global agreement.

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