Planetary Health Matters: Clean energy or fossil fuels – it's time to choose, Malaysia

LNG is often touted as a cleaner alternative to coal – but its methane emissions complicate that claim. — 123rf

AT the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2025 I spoke on a panel alongside climate, economic, and health experts in a session titled “LNG: A Dead End”.

We unanimously agreed on one key point: liquefied natural gas (LNG) is, indeed, a dead end. The world is teetering on the edge of a climate catastrophe. The goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C – the red line for climate safety – is at serious risk of being permanently crossed. The question is no longer whether we must transition away from fossil fuels, nor when. That transition is happening now, driven by economic shifts, technological advancements, and public pressure. And yet, both fascinatingly and horrifyingly, the fossil fuel industry and the states that depend on it continue to resist the inevitable, delaying action and placing profit above human health and, potentially, survival.