Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) part of the solution to climate change (Diana Wallis MEP)

Diana Wallis MEP <info@dianawallismep.org.uk>

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) part of the solution to climate change

March 7, 2006 3:00 PM

Hearing speakers Diana Wallis MEP (UK, Lib Dem and chairperson of Parliament's delegation for relations with the EEA countries) hosted a public hearing today, in conjunction with the Bellona Foundation on the issue of 'Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)' in the European Parliament.

CCS, also known as carbon sequestration, involves capturing carbon dioxide, putting it into the earth's crust and keeping it there. Doing this will substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help in mitigating climate change. It is a key element in the transition to a sustainable energy supply whilst we adapt our habits and energy consumption to more sustainable practices. The hearing today examined how this works in practice.

"There is a clear urgency to deal with CO2 emissions in order to halt climate change. Carbon Capture and Storage is a transitional measure and should not detract from the move towards renewables and energy efficiency. However it is part of the answer in dealing with Carbon emissions," said Diana Wallis. "The EU needs to provide leadership and I hope to see evidence of this in the Energy Green Paper to be issued by the Commission tomorrow."

"The issue of burying carbon dioxide is not without some controversy, as many environmentalists believe that it is such an attractive proposition that Governments may go down this route to the exclusion of reducing carbon emission and fossil fuel usage. However, in my opinion capturing and storing carbon dioxide is something that can be done now as part of a range of measures both to reduce our CO2 emissions and securing our energy supply effective over the longer term.", concluded Diana Wallis.

Photo shows the speakers at the hearing (from L to R): John Gale, IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme; Marius Holm, Bellona Foundation; Diana Wallis MEP; Frederic Hauge, Bellona Foundation; Dr. Nick Riley, British Geological Survey.