Emphasising more action on CCS during climate talks

The ENGO Network is an international group of leading environmental organisations, which compromises Clean Air Task Force; E3G; Environmental Defense Fund; Green Alliance; Natural Resources Defense Council; the Bellona Foundation; the Climate Institute; the Pembina Institute; World Resources Institute; and Zero Emission Resource Organisation.

The network has challenged global decision-makers and urged them to act urgently on carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in order to help meet climate targets.

Closing the gap on climate – Why CCS is a vital part of the solution was launched on 8 December at the United Nations’ climate talks in Paris, France, where representatives of the Network confirmed that CCS must be included in the portfolio of low-carbon technologies to reduce global carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.

The Global CCS Institute welcomed the report, highlighting the need to make full use of the technology in order to meet a global warming target of less than 2°C.

Climate change experts including Lord Nicholas Stern, and Philippe Benoit of the International Energy Agency (IEA), attended the launch in support of the report findings.

“Organisations such as the ENGO Network highlight that when it comes to reducing global CO₂ emissions, all low-carbon technologies have an important role to play,” commented Lord Stern.

“This report is very timely. If the world is serious about tackling the reality of climate change, and the talks of the past week indicate we are very serious, then CCS simply must be on the table for urgent action.”

He continued: “No other low-carbon technology available at this time offers the potential for large-scale emission reductions from the continuing use of fossil fuels in our heavily industrialised global economy. It is likely also to be required if we are to achieve overall net zero emissions which is now increasingly likely to hold to two degrees Celsius. I very much welcome this report, which provides sensible perspectives on the challenges and potential of carbon capture and storage.”

Institute CEO, Brad Page, indicated the report gave a first-hand assessment of the policy and regulatory support needed to advance the number of operational CCS projects worldwide.

“The need for urgent action, to deeply decarbonise all sectors of the global economy has become increasingly clear; while climate action pledges made in the lead-up to COP21 suggest a slowing in emissions growth is possible, they fall short of the major correction required to limit the impact of global warming to two degrees,” said Page.

“Right now there are 15 operational CCS projects around the world, which can capture up to 28 million tonnes of emissions each year. Over the next 18 months, that will become 22 projects and 40 million tonnes.”

Page continued: “This report shows the ENGO Network’s deep insight into the unique challenges facing national economies and finds that CCS has a vital role to play in helping individual nations meet their own domestic emission reduction targets. Nowhere is this more apparent than in application of CCS to heavily industrialised sectors such as the manufacture of steel and cement, or in petrochemical production.

“With the industrial sector accounting for around 25% of the world’s CO₂ emissions it is imperative that policy makers around the world realise CCS is the only technology that can achieve large reductions in these emissions,” concluded Page.

Edited from press release by Harleigh Hobbs

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/power/17122015/urging-for-more-action-on-ccs-during-climate-talks-3302/