Scientists to Biden: Stop CP2, No LNG Letter
December 19, 2023
President Joseph R. Biden Jr.
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W.
Washington, DC 20001
Dear President Biden,
We are scientists who write to you with ever increasing urgency as our climate continues to deteriorate toimplore you to stop the dash to increase exports of liquified natural gas (LNG). Specifically, we urge you
to determine that the proposed CP2 LNG export terminal in Louisiana is not in the public interest and toreject it and other pending LNG facilities.
For years, the science has been overwhelmingly clear that we must stop expanding fossil fuel extraction
and infrastructure and rapidly transition to renewable energy. We have simply no runway left and little
margin for error. In fact, we are rapidly passing tipping points that are further escalating the climate
crisis. Altogether, the science to date shows that spiraling emissions of the climate super-pollutant
methane are a major contributor to the ongoing failure to meet agreed-upon global emissions targets andstabilize the climate. The science also shows that LNG facilities are inherently leaky operations andprodigious emitters of methane.
Yet the magnitude of the proposed buildout of LNG over the next several years is staggering. Taken
together, if all U.S. projects in the permitting pipeline are approved, they could lead to 3.9 billion tons ofgreenhouse gas emissions annually, which is larger than the entire annual emissions of the European
Union. A forthcoming study by Cornell University climate scientist Robert Howarth shows that, even in
the best-case scenarios, LNG is at least 24 percent worse for the climate than coal. Increasing LNG
exports will mean increased extraction of fossil fuels and climate pollution and directs us away from arenewable energy future.
All by itself, the CP2 facility would release 20 times more heat-trapping gases than the Willow drilling
project in Alaska --the equivalent of 42 million gas-powered cars every year. These climate-wrecking
emissions are on top of prodigious amounts of toxic air pollutants, including carcinogenic benzene,
released into local environments both from the LNG facilities themselves and the upstream drilling andfracking operations that feed them. LNG plants and their associated infrastructure pose serious healthharms to surrounding communities and worsen environmental injustice. These facilities are
disproportionately located in communities of color and low-income communities on the Gulf Coastalready overburdened with pollution.
You have often said that your policies will be guided by listening to the science. As scientists we aretelling you in clear and unambiguous terms that approving CP2 and other LNG projects will undermine
your stated goals of meaningfully addressing the climate crisis and put us on a continued path toward
escalating climate chaos. We implore you to turn back from this course, reject CP2 and other fossil fuelexport projects, and put us on a rapid and just trajectory off fossil fuels.
Sincerely,

Scientists joining this letter do so in their individual capacities and not on behalf of the institutions withwhich they are affiliated. Titles for identification purposes only.
Initial Signatories
Rose Z. Abramoff, PhD
Ronin Institute
Robert Howarth, PhD
The Atkinson Professor of Ecology
Cornell University
Mark Jacobson, PhD
Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University
Director, Atmosphere/Energy ProgramPeter Kalmus, PhD
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Michael Mann, PhD
Presidential Distinguished Professor
Director, Penn Center for Science, Sustainability & the Media
Sandra Steingraber, PhD
Senior Scientist
Science and Environmental Health Network
Farhana Sultana, PhD
Professor
Department of Geography & the Environment, Syracuse University
Aradhna Tripati, PhD
Professor, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
University of California, Los Angeles
Additional 162 Signatories
Ben Allen, PhD
Associate Professor of Mathematics, EmmanuelCollegeFrank Alsmeyer, PhD
Professor, Hochschule Niederrhein University
Cort Anastasio, PhDProfessor, University of California - Davis

Johan Arango-Quiroga, PhD Candidate
Student, Northeastern University, Public Policy
Matthew Archer, PhD
Assistant Professor, Maastricht University
Mathew Barlow, PhD
Professor, University of Massachusetts Lowell
William Beckett, MPH
Mount Auburn Hospital

Erin Bell, MS Candidate
Student
Marian Benner-Wickner, PhD
Professor, IU International University ofApplied Sciences
Melanie Bergmann, PhD
Senior Scientist, Alfred Wegener InstituteHelmholtz Centre for Polar & Marine Research
Neil Bernstein, PhD
Retired, Professor of Ecology
Sharon Billings, PhD
Distinguished Professor, Kansas University
Charles Bloch, PhD
Professor, University of Washington
Barbara Brandom, MD
Coordinating Committee Concerned HealthProfessionals of Pennsylvania
Michaela Brennan, MPH
Public Health Practitioner
Mark Brigham, MSRetired, Hydrologist
Roselie Bright, ScD
RetiredClaire Broome, MD
Retired, Assistant Surgeon General US Public
Health Service
Phillip Broussard, PhD
Professor
Clair Brown, PhD
Professor, University of California - Berkeley
Kate Bulinski, PhD
Associate Professor of Geosciences, Universityof Kentucky
Lauren Church, MA
Laboratory Technician, Harvard University

Cheikh CISSE, PhD
Affiliate Researcher at African Studies CentreLeiden
Robert Coats, PhD
Research Associate University of California DavisJohn Collins, MS
Graduate Student Researcher
Adam Cooper, MSPhD Candidate, University of California - San
Diego
Sofi Courtney, MS Candidate
Graduate Student & Research Assistant,
University of Washington
Nicholas Cowern, PhD
Professor Emeritus
Aaron Cozen, PhD
Research Scientist
Ramiro Crego, PhD
Lecturer, University College Cork
Erika Crispo, PhD
Associate Professor, Pace University
Kristina Dahl, PhD
Principal Climate Scientist, Union of Concerned
Scientists
Carlos Davidson, PhD
Professor Emeritus of Environmental Studies,
San Francisco State University
Jeremy Delaney, PhD
Research Scientist
Elizabeth DelBuono, MD
Executive Director, Michigan Clinicians for
Climate Action
Dominick Delisa, PhD
Chief Scientist

Katharine Dickson, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University ofCalifornia - DavisJan Dietrick, MPH
Executive Director, Dietrick Institute forApplied Insect Ecology

Stan Farkas, PhD
Staff Scientist
Ann Feeney, PhD
Professor Emeritus, Scripps Research Institute
Sandy Field, PhD
Owner, Field Scientific LLC

Christina DiGiulio, BS
Analytical Chemist, Field Scientist, Certified
Thermographer

Gabriel Filippelli, PhD
Chancellor's Professor, Indiana University

Amanda Dilger, MD
PhysicianMelissa Finucane, PhD
Vice President, Union of Concerned Scientists

Andy Dobson, PhD
Professor

Mei Firestone, MD
Hematologist/Oncologist

Nathan Donley, PhD
Environmental Health Program Science Director

Kevin Fistanic, BA
Restoration Programs Manager, Tidal Influence
LLC

Dave Doody, MAEngineer, California Institute of Technology
Eugenie Dubnau, PhD
Assistant Professor
David Dubnau, PhD
Professor, Rutgers University
Dianne DuBois, MS
Staff Scientist, Center for Biological Diversity
Catherine Duckett, PhD
Associate Dean, School of Science, Monmouth
University
Hans Engler, PhD
Professor Emeritus
Jessica Ernst, MS
Environmental Consultant
Guillaume Falmagne, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Princeton
University
Cathey Falvo, MD
Vice President, NA to International Society ofDoctors for the Environment

John Fleming, PhD
Senior Scientist, Center for Biological Diversity
Dargan Frierson, PhD
Associate Professor of Atmospheric Sciences,
University of Washington
Jessica Geltz, BSClinical Research Coordinator at University ofCalifornia - Davis
Sophie Gilbert, PhD
Lead Biodiversity Scientist, Vibrant Planet
Peter Gleick, PhD
Senior Fellow, Co-Founder, Pacific InstituteKenneth Gould, PhD
Professor
Grant Haines, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Will Harlan, MS
Senior Scientist
Porter Harrast, PhD
Graduate Student Researcher

Valerie Harrington, MS
Graduate Research Assistant, University ofMaryland Baltimore
Philip Haves, PhD
Retired, Staff Scientist &Mechanical Engineer,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Robert Haw, MS
Retired, California Institute of Technology - Jet
Propulsion Laboratory
Jacalyn Heinl, MPM
Soil & Wetland Scientist
Tarek Hijaz, MD
Associate Professor of Radiology, Northwestern
Memorial Hospital
Austin Hinkel, PhD
Assistant Professor
Harry Hochheiser, PhD
Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh
Mark Huising, PhD
Professor Neurobiology, Physiology andBehavior

Scott T. Kelley, PhD
Professor of Biology, San Diego StateUniversity
Kathi Kemper, MD
Professor
Alaina Kinol, PhD
PhD Candidate, Northeastern University
Kevin Kircher, PhD
Assistant Professor, Purdue University
David Klein, PhD
Professor Emeritus
Gerd Kloeppner, PhD
Senior Engineer
Greg Kochanski, PhD
Staff Software Engineer, Google LLC
Tom Kompas, PhD
Professor, University of Melbourne
Jennifer Krauel, PhD
Adjunct Assistant Professor, South Dakota StateUniversity

Hilary Hunt, MS
PhD Student, Environment, University ofWisconsin - Madison

Brooke Lappe, MPH
PhD Candidate, Emory University

John Hurley, PhD
California Environmental Protection Agency

Gary Latshaw, PhD
Senior Scientist, Securethefuture200

Anthony Ingraffea, PhD
Dwight C. Baum Professor Emeritus

Niki Learn, MSResearch Specialist, Princeton University

David Inouye, PhD
Professor Emeritus

Timo Leiter, PhD
Researcher, Grantham Research Institute &London School of Economics

Steven Johnson, PhD
Associate Professor of Commerce, University ofVirginia

Grace Lindsay, PhD
Assistant Professor, New York University

Larry Junck, MD
Professor, University of Michigan

Ben Lockwood, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Hans Kaper, PhD
Affiliate FacultyJonathan London, PhD
Professor, Department of Human Ecology/Community and Regional Development

Philip Nyhus, PhD
Professor of Environmental Studies, Colby
CollegeHenry Lowendorf, PhD
Retired, Associate Director, Office of
Cooperative Research, YaleConnor O'Brien, PhD
Research Fellow, Boston University

Edward Maibach, PhD
Professor & Director, George Mason University
Center for Climate Change Communication
Volker Maiwald, PhD
Researcher, German Aerospace Center
Julio Mandojana, PhD
Retired, Professor Emeritus

Russell Oates, MS
Chief, Alaskan Division of Migratory Bird
Management & USFWS, Retired
Suzanne O’Connell, PhD
Stearns Professor of Earth Sciences
Joseph Ortiz, PhD
Professor, Kent State University

Roberta Millstein, PhD
Professor Emeritus

Lisa Patel, MD
Executive Director, Medical Society Consortium
on Climate and Health

Nusrat Molla, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Princeton
University

Jerome Paulson, MD
Professor Emeritus, George Washington
UniversityStephen Mulkey, PhD
Lecturer, University of Florida

Ivette Perfecto, PhD
Bunyan Bryant Collegiate Professor ofEnvironmental Justice, University of Michigan

Robert K. Musil, PhD
President & CEO, Rachel Carson Council

Pallavi Phartiyal, PhD
Vice President, Union of Concerned Scientists

Matthew Myers, PhD
Senior Computational Biologist, Memorial
Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Nathan Phillips, PhD
Professor, Boston University

Cheryl Nenn, MS
Riverkeeper, Milwaukee Riverkeeper

Randi Pokladnik, PhD
Educator

Steven Neshyba, PhDProfessor of Chemistry

Ivan J Ramirez, PhD
Clinical Assistant Professor

Robert Newman, PhD
Professor, University of North Dakota

Terry Rankin, DMin
RetiredPeter Nightingale, PhD
Professor Emeritus, University of Rhode Island

James Renwick, PhD
Professor, Victoria University of Wellington

Kathleen Nolan, MD
President, Physicians for Social Responsibility

Jerry Rivers, PhD
Environmental Scientist, North American
Climate, Conservation and Environment

Gloria Rodriguez, PhD
Associate Professor
Adam Rosenblatt, PhD
Assistant Professor, University of North Florida
Brad Rosenheim, PhD
Professor, College of Marine Science,
University of South Florida
James Roth, DVM, PhDDistinguished Professor, Iowa State University
Philip Russell, PhD
Retired, NASA Senior Scientist
Stacia Ryder, PhD
Assistant Professor, Utah State University
Eric Schechter, PhD
Professor Emeritus
Ted Schettler, MD
Science Director, Science and Environmental
Health Network
Joseph Schreiber, PhD
Health Care Provider and Business Owner
Kevin Schultz, PhD
Associate Professor
Kate Scow, PhD
Distinguished Professor
Ulli Seibt, PhD
Professor, University of California - Los
Angeles
Cydney Seigerman, BSPhD Candidate, University of Georgia
Kevin Spehar, MD & PhD Student
MD-PhD Student, Icahn School of Medicine atMount Sinai
Greg Spooner, PhDCEO/Principal, Gain Consulting Services
Alan Stenhouse, PhD
Research Scientist

Jennie Stephens, PhD
Professor of Sustainability Science and Policy
Jim R Stewart, PhD
RetiredStuart Strand, PhD
Professor Emeritus
Joanna Swain, PhD
Senior Vice President, Repertoire Immune
Medicines
Varykina Thackray, PhD
Professor, University of California - San Diego
Ariana Thompson-Lastad, PhD
Assistant Professor, University of California San Francisco
Michael Tullius, PhD
Project Scientist, University of California - LA
School of Medicine
Robin Turner, PhD
Associate Professor, Butler University
Jess Tyler, MS
Staff Scientist, Center for Biological Diversity
Cyrus Umrigar, PhD
Adjunct Professor
Mathieu Van Vyve, PhD
Professor, Université Catholique de Louvain
Celine Wang, BA
Graduate Student Worker & Teaching Fellow,
Boston University
Harry Wells, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Stephen Wheeler, PhD
Professor, U.C. Davis Department of Human
Ecology
Shaye Wolf, PhD
Climate Science Director

Noah Wolfe, BS
Graduate Student
Alaina Wood, BAScience Communicator
Beth Sigmund, MD
PhysicianAmy Zlot, MPH
Epidemiologist