European Commission VP’s Visit Adds Fuel to the Climate Fire

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Maroš Šefčovič, the European Commission’s vice president for the energy union, today held a meeting with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, capping off a trip aimed at securing long-term fossil fuel energy exports from the United States.

Šefčovič’s trip included a tour of the Cameron LNG export terminal in Hackberry, Louisiana with Donald Trump. Exports of LNG from the U.S. to the E.U. are up more than 272 percent in the last year, according to the E.U.

In response to Šefčovič’s visit, Karen Orenstein, Deputy Director of Economic Policy, issued the following statement:

It is absurd that the European Commission and the Trump Administration are using the false pretense of energy security to undermine human security, which is under severe threat due to climate change. Sending Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič to pal around with Trump and celebrate the export of liquefied natural gas undercuts the Commission’s so-called commitment to take climate change seriously.

While Šefčovič colludes with the Chamber of Commerce, the survival of our species and our planet is in the balance due to climate change. There can be no more expansion of “natural” gas infrastructure.

Communications contact: Patrick Davis, (202) 222-0744, [email protected]