An international energy conference has begun in the United States, attracting government officials and business leaders from around the world, and the Biden administration has temporarily frozen new export permits to evaluate the environmental impact of LNG (liquefied natural gas). This is one of the focal points.
This international conference, called ``CERAWeek,'' is hosted every year by the American financial services company S&P Global, and is attended by approximately 7,000 people, including government officials and business leaders from approximately 90 countries.
The conference began on the 18th in Houston, Texas, with U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Granholm speaking.
Secretary Granholm referred to the temporary freeze on new LNG export licenses announced by the Biden administration in January, and said, ``Assessing the impact of expanding LNG exports on the global environment based on data.'' "The transition to clean energy is inevitable," he said, stressing the importance of investing in renewable energy.
On the other hand, Secretary Granholm did not clearly indicate any future decisions, stating that ``freezing is a temporary measure.''
The United States is the largest exporter of LNG, and environmental groups calling for the abolition of fossil fuels are calling this a ``groundbreaking decision,'' while the energy industry is calling it ``a groundbreaking decision'' that calls for the move to eliminate dependence on Russia for natural gas. There are concerns that this will delay the transition and lead to a rise in energy prices.
The meeting will be held until the 22nd of this month, and is expected to include discussions from the perspectives of climate change countermeasures and energy security.