Certified natural gas is ‘dangerous greenwashing scheme’, US senators say

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Guardian or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Progressive senators, led by Ed Markey, have called on the FTC to scrutinize "certified natural gas" claims, labeling them a greenwashing tactic that undermines renewable energy transitions

🔭 The context: The letter targets gas certification schemes, critiquing them for enabling the fossil fuel industry to continue expanding methane gas usage under the guise of sustainability
• This move coincides with the FTC's update of its Green Guides, aimed at preventing consumer deception in sustainability claims

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Certified natural gas is challenged for not significantly reducing emissions and for continuing to contribute to air pollution and the climate crisis, despite being marketed as a more sustainable option

⏭️ What's next: The senators urge the FTC to investigate gas certification processes and to include guidance on third-party natural gas certifications in its revised Green Guides, to prevent misleading consumers and harming the environment

💬 One quote: "The gas companies’ profits depend on the monitoring companies certifying their gas, and the monitoring companies’ profits depend on willing industry customers," the senators highlighted, criticizing the inherent conflict of interest in gas certification.

📈 One stat: No specific statistic provided; the emphasis is on the systemic issue of greenwashing in the certified natural gas industry.

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