24th August 2024, 5pm, Dublin Extinction Rebellion Ireland (XRI) staged a coordinated international anti-LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas), anti-fracking protest today at the Dublin - New York Portal with activists from Sane Energy, New York. Irish protesters chanted “from Dublin to NYC, we say no to LNG” and “New Fortress Energy, we don't want your LNG”. Both sides communicated with each via hand signals and shared sound files. On the New York side, activists displayed banners opposing fracking and other banners highlighting their ongoing fight against an LNG storage facility in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Protestors on the Irish side symbolically shut down a “gas pipeline”.

US groups have been vocal in their support of the Irish anti-LNG campaign, and actor Mark Ruffalo has regularly stepped in to urge the Irish government to ban LNG. In June he said on twitter:

“greenparty_ie should not break its promise & move forward w/ gov’t funded LNG import terminal. The US gov’t has a ban on LNG export permits while it assesses the national security & climate risks. Why isn’t Ireland doing the same?”

Today's action was in response to pre-application talks between American Company New Fortress Energy and An Bord Pleanála regarding a planning application for a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) off the coast of Ireland - following the rejection of the company’s previous application last September and the Energy Security Review report last November recommending a “temporary” LNG import terminal as a gas reserve. Fracking was banned in Ireland in 2017 but is still commonly used to extract gas and oil in the USA.

Ian Mac an Ghaill, XRI rebel and teacher, said:

“This action highlights the shared grievances of anti-fracking, anti-LNG activists from across both sides of the Atlantic and the madness of considering Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) storage as an energy security solution, when the overarching threat to a secure future is the climate crisis. Methane leakage and energy-intensive processing means that LNG is more polluting for the climate than coal. Bringing LNG fossil fuel infrastructure to Ireland for the first time risks locking us into highly polluting dirty energy for decades to come. We need a cleaner, brighter, gas-free future.”

Priscilla Grim from Sane Energy New York said:

“We gather here today to connect New York City to Dublin in the inspiring spirit of the Portal project. We stand united with our friends across the Atlantic who also oppose toxic LNG projects on their shores. Known data on LNG pipelines reveals that in the average year there are nearly 6,000 pipeline explosions, fires and leaks, causing 300 deaths and over 1,000 injuries in the US. We say no to this toxic substance in our communities.”

Thomas Morelli, XRI Arts Coordinator said:

"The government must reject the Energy Security Package 2030 recommendation to build a state-led LNG terminal. They must introduce a policy to unconditionally ban all LNG terminals, in line with the May 2021 policy statement on the importation of fracked gas, and in line with the Programme for Government."