The war in Ukraine has triggered a 'gold rush' for new fossil fuel projects that threatens to lock the planet into irreversible global warming, leading climate researchers believe.

A new report prepared by the organisation Climate Action Tracker (CAT) has found that the spike in energy prices following the Russian invasion has spurred greater investment in oil and gas projects. The report points to the large number of new gas projects, many of which will not be completed in time to tackle the current energy crisis. However, in the long term, they will increase emissions and lock us for decades into infrastructure that generates high carbon emissions.

The report highlights new liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in Europe – in Germany, Italy, Greece and the Netherlands. Under the REPowerEU plan, the European Union intends to use liquefied natural gas to replace millions of tonnes of gas it currently buys from Russia. Up to 12 billion euros have been allocated to gas pipeline and infrastructure projects to secure energy supply while more renewable energy sources are being built. (...)