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China's synthetic natural gas revolution

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China has recently pushed for investments in large-scale coal-fuelled synthetic natural gas plants. The associated carbon emissions, water needs and wider environmental impacts are, however, mostly neglected and could lock the country into an unsustainable development path.

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Figure 1: Comparison of lifecycle GHG emissions and water consumption in the production of SNG, coal and shale gas.
Figure 2: Cost estimates for new SNG projects in United States and China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center on Global Change, Box 90658, Duke University, Durham, 27708, North Carolina, USA

    Chi-Jen Yang & Robert B. Jackson

  2. Nicholas School of the Environment, Box 90338, Duke University, Durham, 27708, North Carolina, USA

    Robert B. Jackson

Authors
  1. Chi-Jen Yang
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  2. Robert B. Jackson
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Correspondence to Chi-Jen Yang.

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Yang, CJ., Jackson, R. China's synthetic natural gas revolution. Nature Clim Change 3, 852–854 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate1988

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