Global go ahead for carbon capture

Energy ministers from around the world have agreed to proposals to help speed up the global adoption of carbon capture and storage.

At a meeting today (7 April 2011) in Abu Dhabi, politicians at the Clean Energy Ministerial endorsed recommendations from the Carbon Capture, Use and Storage (CCUS) Action Group chaired by Australia and the UK.

“There can be no solution to climate change and energy security globally without carbon capture and storage,” said UK energy secretary Chris Huhne at the meeting.

“Deployment of the technology is tantalisingly close, but it won’t happen at commercial scale without concerted efforts by governments around the world to address legal, financial and technical barriers.

“Our work with Australia to galvanise action and the commitments we’ve secured from key countries today are a step forward in this challenge. The UK will host the next Clean Energy Ministerial in London next spring and will be pressing hard for substantial progress by then.”

Australia’s minister for resources and energy, Martin Ferguson said: “Australia is leading the CCUS Action Group with the UK to bring expertise together from across the world and to help governments and industry work together to advance CCS.”