Gas Trap
The climate goals of the European Union and its member states are clear: reaching climate neutrality by the year 2050 and limiting warming to a maximum of two Celsius degrees. Nonetheless, natural gas projects are being planned and built all over Europe. Read more about investigation into the "Gas Trap" here.
October 2020
The climate goals of the European Union and its member states are clear: reaching climate neutrality by the year 2050 and limiting warming to a maximum of two Celsius degrees. Nonetheless, natural gas projects are being planned and built all over Europe. Read more about investigation into the "Gas Trap" here.
“Natural” might trick you into thinking that it’s not harmful. The oil and gas industry would surely want you to see it that way. But it is still a fossil fuel, and it produces “alarming methane emissions”, say experts. Investigate Europe dug into gas investments to understand why Europe is once again acting against its own climate goals. What we found:
- New gas projects worth 104 billion Euros are underway; capacity for LNG terminals is to be increased by 54%; An extra 12,842 km of pipelines are anticipated down the line
- In the European Commission’s list of the so-called “Projects of Common Interest”, there are 32 gas projects that have been deemed eligible for funding by the EU.
- The Commission repeatedly overestimated the gas demands in the past ten years, according to the European court of Auditors.
But why?
The answers we found are a mix of massive lobby influence, geopolitical competition and economical dependencies throughout Europe. Learn more about our investigation by accessing our original content, including articles and interviews. Scroll to the bottom of the page to read articles published with media partners across Europe in a number of languages.
Inside the gas trap
Source: Own calculations by Investigate Europe, based on data provided by the NGO Global Energy Monitor for pipeline and power plant data and industry group Gas Infrastructure Europe for data on LNG terminals. This map covers gas power plants, pipelines and LNG terminals. Gas exploration and extraction are not covered.
The production of this investigation was supported by a grant from the Investigative Journalism for Europe (IJ4EU) fund.
Discover more
Publications
Αντίο Green Deal: Πώς ο πόλεμος στην Ουκρανία κλείδωσε την Ευρώπη στο αμερικανικό LNG
Reporters United, Greece
6 February 2023
Europeere inngår megakontrakter i USAs skifergass-boom
Agenda Magasin, Norway
26 January 2023
Gassprosjekter kan få milliarder fra øremerket pandemistøtte
Agenda Magasin, Norway
22 January 2023
Flüssiggas: Europas Nachfrage fördert Fracking-Boom
Der Tagesspiegel, Germany
10 January 2023
Gas, la rischiosa dipendenza dell’Europa dall’America
Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy
8 January 2023
Gas liquefatto, l’Europa corre: 60 miliardi dai Pnrr per nuovi progetti
Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy
8 January 2023
Miles de millones previstos por la UE para la recuperación del covid pueden desviarse a proyectos de combustibles fósiles
infoLibre, Spain
8 January 2023
![[Investigation] At least 41 liquefied natural gas and gas pipeline projects are planned across Europe — many of which could receive funds from EU post-Covid recovery budgets](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.investigateeurope.com%2Fuploads%2FEUobserver%2C%20Belgium.jpg&w=256&q=75)
[Investigation] At least 41 liquefied natural gas and gas pipeline projects are planned across Europe — many of which could receive funds from EU post-Covid recovery budgets
EUobserver, Belgium
8 January 2023
Las importaciones europeas de gas de EEUU procedente del ‘fracking’ se disparan un 148% durante el último año
infoLibre, Spain
8 January 2023
Die Fracking-Frage, zweite Runde
taz, Germany
9 October 2022
Armaroli: “Cingolani sbaglia, senza gas russo problemi già a febbraio”
Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy
4 October 2022
Riecco il ‘fracking’ anche in Ue: la crisi rilancia il gas dalle rocce
Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy
4 September 2022
Sier Ja Til Farlig Fracking
Klassekampen, Norway
4 September 2022
O perigoso “fracking” está de volta na Europa
Público, Portugal
31 August 2022
Inutili, costosi e fuori tempo: la guerra resuscita i gasdotti
Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy
29 March 2022
Abhängig in die Krise
der Freitag, Germany
25 October 2021
EU fails to reduce dependency on fossil fuels amid soaring energy bills
OpenDemocracy, UK
12 October 2021
In the ‘Cold War’ of pipes, the EU bows to American will
Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy
9 December 2020
The big gas scam: the fossil sold as “green”
Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy
9 December 2020
Billions for an infrastructure that is not needed
Rheinpfalz, Germany
4 December 2020
“We must stop using the atmosphere as a free dustbin”
Stavanger Aftenblad, Norway
15 November 2020
Europe will spend €104 billion on gas projects despite its impact on climate change
infoLibre, Spain
10 November 2020
Climate goals notwithstanding, Europe will invest more than €100bn in gas
Stavanger Aftenblad, Norway
10 November 2020
Between geopolitics and lobbying, the big chess game of European gas
Mediapart, France
9 November 2020
759 gas lobbyists, 12 from Equinor, try to convince the EU that gas is green enough
Stavanger Aftenblad, Norway
8 November 2020
The gas industry envisages a long life with carbon capture — but the technology is controversial in Europe
Teknisk Ukeblad, Norway
2 November 2020
The Gas Trap: how Europe is investing €100bn in fossil fuel infrastructure
OpenDemocracy, UK
14 October 2020
Hydrogen — the next battlefield
EUobserver, Belgium
14 October 2020
New pipelines and power plants will put Europe in a gas trap
Forbes, Poland
13 October 2020
Here too the lobby moves: risking recovery in Italy
Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy
11 October 2020
With blue hydrogen, only the giants rejoice
Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy
11 October 2020
The European gas trap
EUobserver, Belgium
11 October 2020
Europe falls into the gas trap
Trends, Belgium
7 October 2020
Europe in the natural gas trap
Republik, Switzerland
5 October 2020
Why natural gas threatens Europe’s climate goals
Der Tagesspiegel, Germany
4 October 2020
O lobby do gás está a conduzir a Europa para um beco sem saída
Público, Portugal
4 October 2020