Staggering Hypocrisy: America Is Failing the Paris Agreement in Licensing Oil and Gas Drilling

Along with four other countries, the US is responsible for 67% of global oil-and gas licenses – and this comes after the 2015 Paris Agreement.

A Promise Made

In 2015, the Paris Agreement was drafted at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris.

Under this legally binding international treaty, negotiated by 196 parties, most countries of the world agreed to abide by certain rules to minimize carbon emissions and help fight global warming.

Not Necessarily Kept

Part of the deal included that the richest nations on Earth – including the US and UK – would lead the energy transition away from fossil fuels by using their economic powers.

But that didn’t happen – and according to Harjeet Singh, global engagement director for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, the “hypocrisy of wealthy nations, historically responsible for the climate crisis, is staggering”.

The Data Speaks

Now, a new analysis by Rystad Industry and government data collected by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is showing us the cold – or rather hot-and-getting-hotter – truth:

First Up, USA

The world’s biggest oil- and gas producer by far is the United States. In 2023, it issued a record 758 new licenses to implement extraction projects. That’s nearly the same as the previous three years combined.

According to the predicted number of licenses to be issued in 2024, the result would be a staggering 397m tons of emissions released by the US.

UK, Not Looking Good Either

As per the data, the United Kingdom is expected to issue 72 oil- and gas licenses this year, adding a projected 101m tons of pollution – that’s the highest in half a century.

No Way, Norway

From Norway, about 80 oil- and gas licenses are expected in 2024, which would mean 771m tons of greenhouse gasses.

And You, Australia?

From down under, 20 new licenses are forecast from Australia this year. And if that happens, we are looking at about 217m tons of planet-warming pollution.

That’s the highest number since 2009 and more than the previous five years in total.

No Comment, Of Course

While the governments of the UK, Norway, and Australia disputed some of the figures released in the study and defended their climate policies, no response was received from the US.

Not That Eco-Friendly

On the world stage, countries like the US, UK, Canada, Norway, and Australia are usually seen as the climate leaders.

But collectively, these five wealthy nations are guilty of over two-thirds (67%) of all new oil- and gas licenses issued worldwide since 2020.

Waste of Time

Last year’s COP28 summit, hosted by the United Arab Emirates, was regarded as a joke.

Although the summit pledged to reduce emissions and the use of fossil fuels, energy companies did little more than make hypocritical promises.

Low Expectations

That’s why nobody is expecting anything major from this year’s COP29 summit, hosted by Azerbaijan – another big player in the oil- and gas industry that’s also fueling production.

Sounds Reasonable

Olivier Bois von Kursk, a policy adviser at the IISD, expressed his disapproval regarding the ongoing and escalating exploration activities, especially by nations that rely minimally on fossil fuel revenues.

“The logical first step in a ‘transition away’ from oil and gas is to stop opening new fields,” Von Kursk stated.

Empty Words

He added: “So it is deeply concerning that exploration activity has not just continued since the Cop28 agreement but increased. Rich countries with relatively low dependence on fossil fuel revenues should be the first to stop issuing licenses. We’re not seeing that in the data.”

Who’s Counting, Right?

As per the Paris Agreement, a carbon dioxide emissions budget of 500 gigatons was established to limit temperature increases to below 1.5C.

But half of that limit has already been exceeded ahead of schedule.

A Boiling Planet

And all the while, climate change is doing its worst – and scientists can’t keep up with the accelerating crisis.

While last year was the warmest ever, 2024 has already recorded the hottest day since records began. As per preliminary data collected from Copernicus’ ERA5 dataset, July 21st had an average global surface air temperature of 62.76°F (17.09°C).

Isn’t Biden Green?

In the US, 1,453 new oil- and gas licenses were issued under the Biden administration. This makes up half of the total amount handed out globally and 83% of all licenses issued by wealthy countries.

It’s also a 20% increase compared to Donald Trump’s term as president, who has vowed to “drill, baby, drill” if he regains the presidency.

Who’s Really Changing the Climate?

When it comes to political influence in petrostates, the oil- and gas industry keeps on investing BIG TIME.

According to Open Secrets, about $1.25bn was spent on lobbying in Washington. And over the past 10 years, campaign contributions in total exceed $650m.

So Much for Global Cooling

John Sterman, a climate policy expert at MIT, says: “The US has become a petrostate and is still, even under President Biden, permitting new drilling.”

Listen Up

But now that it’s clear that the 1.5C has been missed, scientists are issuing a grim warning that our world is set to experience temperatures spiking by an alarming 2.5%.

Do They Care?

Ralph Gonsalves is the prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, where this year’s Hurricane Beryl “flattened” one island and caused major damage to others.

According to him: “The world, if we don’t move to net zero, we are going to be a very inhospitable place to be in another two, three decades. I mean, this is not scaremongering; this is science. And we are on the frontlines of this.”

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