President Biden on Friday paused the permitting process for new liquefied natural gas export facilities in order to analyze their impact on climate change, the economy and national security.

“In every corner of the country and the world, people are suffering the devastating toll of climate change,” Mr. Biden said in a statement. “This pause on new L.N.G. approvals sees the climate crisis for what it is: the existential threat of our time.”

The move could spell trouble for what would be the largest export terminal in the country, a $10 billion proposed project in Louisiana that has drawn scrutiny for its potential environmental impact.

Mr. Biden’s election-year decision is viewed as a win for climate activists who have pressed the administration to curb fossil fuels at a time when greenhouse gas emissions need to fall rapidly to stave off climate catastrophe.

Subscribe to The Times to read as many articles as you like.