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

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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

Click on the interactive map above to explore the gas investments per capita:
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.

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Publications

Αντίο Green Deal: Πώς ο πόλεμος στην Ουκρανία κλείδωσε την Ευρώπη στο αμερικανικό LNG
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
Europeere inngår megakontrakter i USAs skifergass-boom

Agenda Magasin, Norway

26 January 2023

Gassprosjekter kan få milliarder fra øremerket pandemistøtte
Gassprosjekter kan få milliarder fra øremerket pandemistøtte

Agenda Magasin, Norway

22 January 2023

Flüssiggas: Europas Nachfrage fördert Fracking-Boom
Flüssiggas: Europas Nachfrage fördert Fracking-Boom

Der Tagesspiegel, Germany

10 January 2023

Las importaciones europeas de gas de EEUU procedente del ‘fracking’ se disparan un 148% durante el último año
Las importaciones europeas de gas de EEUU procedente del ‘fracking’ se disparan un 148% durante el último año

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
[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

Miles de millones previstos por la UE para la recuperación del covid pueden desviarse a proyectos de combustibles fósiles
Miles de millones previstos por la UE para la recuperación del covid pueden desviarse a proyectos de combustibles fósiles

infoLibre, Spain

8 January 2023

Gas liquefatto, l’Europa corre: 60 miliardi dai Pnrr per nuovi progetti
Gas liquefatto, l’Europa corre: 60 miliardi dai Pnrr per nuovi progetti

Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy

8 January 2023

Gas, la rischiosa dipendenza dell’Europa dall’America
Gas, la rischiosa dipendenza dell’Europa dall’America

Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy

8 January 2023

Die Fracking-Frage, zweite Runde
Die Fracking-Frage, zweite Runde

taz, Germany

9 October 2022

Armaroli: “Cingolani sbaglia, senza gas russo problemi già a febbraio”
Armaroli: “Cingolani sbaglia, senza gas russo problemi già a febbraio”

Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy

4 October 2022

Sier Ja Til Farlig Fracking
Sier Ja Til Farlig Fracking

Klassekampen, Norway

4 September 2022

Riecco il ‘fracking’ anche in Ue: la crisi rilancia il gas dalle rocce
Riecco il ‘fracking’ anche in Ue: la crisi rilancia il gas dalle rocce

Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy

4 September 2022

O perigoso “fracking” está de volta na Europa
O perigoso “fracking” está de volta na Europa

Público, Portugal

31 August 2022

Inutili, costosi e fuori tempo: la guerra resuscita i gasdotti
Inutili, costosi e fuori tempo: la guerra resuscita i gasdotti

Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy

29 March 2022

Abhängig in die Krise
Abhängig in die Krise

der Freitag, Germany

25 October 2021

EU fails to reduce dependency on fossil fuels amid soaring energy bills
EU fails to reduce dependency on fossil fuels amid soaring energy bills

OpenDemocracy, UK

12 October 2021

The big gas scam: the fossil sold as “green”
The big gas scam: the fossil sold as “green”

Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy

9 December 2020

In the ‘Cold War’ of pipes, the EU bows to American will
In the ‘Cold War’ of pipes, the EU bows to American will

Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy

9 December 2020

Billions for an infrastructure that is not needed
Billions for an infrastructure that is not needed

Rheinpfalz, Germany

4 December 2020

“We must stop using the atmosphere as a free dustbin”
“We must stop using the atmosphere as a free dustbin”

Stavanger Aftenblad, Norway

15 November 2020

Climate goals notwithstanding, Europe will invest more than €100bn in gas
Climate goals notwithstanding, Europe will invest more than €100bn in gas

Stavanger Aftenblad, Norway

10 November 2020

Europe will spend €104 billion on gas projects despite its impact on climate change
Europe will spend €104 billion on gas projects despite its impact on climate change

infoLibre, Spain

10 November 2020

Between geopolitics and lobbying, the big chess game of European gas
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
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
The gas industry envisages a long life with carbon capture — but the technology is controversial in Europe

Teknisk Ukeblad, Norway

2 November 2020

Hydrogen — the next battlefield
Hydrogen — the next battlefield

EUobserver, Belgium

14 October 2020

The Gas Trap: how Europe is investing €100bn in fossil fuel infrastructure
The Gas Trap: how Europe is investing €100bn in fossil fuel infrastructure

OpenDemocracy, UK

14 October 2020

New pipelines and power plants will put Europe in a gas trap
New pipelines and power plants will put Europe in a gas trap

Forbes, Poland

13 October 2020

The European gas trap
The European gas trap

EUobserver, Belgium

11 October 2020

With blue hydrogen, only the giants rejoice
With blue hydrogen, only the giants rejoice

Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy

11 October 2020

Here too the lobby moves: risking recovery in Italy
Here too the lobby moves: risking recovery in Italy

Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy

11 October 2020

Europe falls into the gas trap
Europe falls into the gas trap

Trends, Belgium

7 October 2020

Europe in the natural gas trap
Europe in the natural gas trap

Republik, Switzerland

5 October 2020

O lobby do gás está a conduzir a Europa para um beco sem saída
O lobby do gás está a conduzir a Europa para um beco sem saída

Público, Portugal

4 October 2020

Why natural gas threatens Europe’s climate goals
Why natural gas threatens Europe’s climate goals

Der Tagesspiegel, Germany

4 October 2020