A BOOM in natural gas production, triggered by sanctions against Russian oil, is undermining already insufficient efforts by nations to limit future global warming levels, a report revealed today.

Plans to increase liquidised and other natural gas output to counter the energy crisis would add two billion tons of carbon dioxide a year to the air by 2030, according to the report released by Climate Action Tracker at the Cop27 climate conference in Egypt.

It equates to enough greenhouse gas to “hinder, if not catastrophically hinder, chances of achieving 1.5°C degrees,” the level to which global warming must be limited to avoid the worst effects, according to the report.