15 September
2006 - Australia is continuing to push for an
international legal framework to enable countries
to store carbon dioxide deep beneath the seabed
as part of global efforts to address climate change.
Senator Campbell raised the
issue while meeting in Zurich with Ministers from
about 30 countries for an international Ministerial
summit on climate change, saying permanent carbon
storage was a crucial part of the fight against
climate change.
“Carbon dioxide capture and
storage technologies (CCS), such as geosequestration,
are relatively new and have enormous potential
to help the world reduce its greenhouse gas emissions,”
he said.
“CCS uses existing technology,
but applies it in a new way to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions from fossil fuel use during industrial
and energy-related processes.
“However, because this application
is new, it is not yet covered by the current international
legal framework, which was first developed more
than 30 years ago. This framework includes the
1996 Protocol to the London Convention of 1972,
which aims to protect the marine environment from
pollution caused by the dumping of land-based
wastes at sea.
“Australia is leading international
efforts to address this, so that countries are
able to best use these technologies in the fight
against climate change.
“We have proposed amendments
to the 1996 Protocol to the London Convention
as part of these efforts, with our proposal co-sponsored
by France, Norway, the United Kingdom and Spain.
It will be considered in early November when the
27 Parties to the Protocol next meet.
“The amendments would ensure
that the carbon-dioxide stream could not be pumped
into the ocean water, only into geological formations
beneath the seabed.
“Like onshore geosequestration,
geosequestration beneath the seabed will be an
important part of a ‘multi-track’ response to
climate change. It is an example of the important
role low-emission technologies can play.
“In a recent report, the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reaffirmed the
value of CCS in reducing future greenhouse gas
emissions.
“The Australian Government is
driving the development of these low-emission
technologies through its $500 million Low Emissions
Technology Demonstration Fund.
“We are working together
with a number of countries to develop this technology,
but it is imperative that we also develop the
right legal framework for future use of the technology.”
Rob Broadfield
