Search Climate Insights Directory

The author supports the EPA's plan to propose carbon performance standards for power plants by July 2011, arguing that such regulations are necessary in the absence of federal legislation to drive clean energy investment and reduce harmful emissions. The text emphasizes that while coal-fired plants are a major source of pollution and 40% of U.S. carbon emissions, phased-in regulation and the development of a robust carbon capture and storage (CCS) industry are the most effective paths toward climate stabilization.

The report develops a high-resolution global inventory of ship emissions (SOx, NOx, PM, and black carbon) using power-weighted ICOADS data. It argues that a business-as-usual (BAU) growth rate of 4.1% per year, driven by trade globalization and containerization, will likely offset current IMO emission control measures. The authors conclude that fleetwide reductions of at least 60% would be required within two decades to maintain 2002 pollution levels.

The document argues that for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) to maintain industrial competitiveness and meet climate targets, it must rapidly deploy carbon capture and storage (CCS). A critical barrier is the current reliance on exporting CO2 to the North Sea, which increases costs; the report finds that developing domestic storage could reduce deployment costs by 23% to 48%. To bridge the funding gap between high deployment costs and the EU ETS price, the brief recommends a 'Coordinator' role for governments to align value chains, leverage EU funds like the Innovation Fund and Connecting Europe Facility, and implement de-risking tools such as carbon contracts for difference (CCfDs). Case studies of the Porthos (Netherlands) and Northern Lights (Norway) projects illustrate how layered public-private financing, including state-owned enterprise (SOE) participation and capital grants, can lead to final investment decisions.

The analysis identifies a significant gap between announced CO2 capture ambitions and the development of geological storage capacity in Europe, particularly in the short term. While Europe possesses a theoretical storage potential of approximately 507 Gt, the time required to develop storage sites (5 to 15 years) lags behind the faster implementation of capture projects. By 2025, a shortage of around 15 Mt/year is expected, and by 2030, the gap widens to approximately 40 Mt/year, with available capacity meeting only half of the 82 Mt/year demand. The report notes that many capture projects are concentrated in industrial clusters, but several countries—including Belgium, France, Germany, Poland, and Sweden—have no announced storage projects despite capture ambitions, necessitating cross-border storage solutions.

The document analyzes the life cycle emissions of CO2-EOR, citing IEA data to show that using anthropogenic CO2 for oil recovery results in a net emissions reduction of 63% per barrel produced. It argues that EOR is a critical market-based driver for CCUS technology and that the oil targeted for EOR would likely be produced via other, more carbon-intensive methods if CO2-EOR is not used.

The document argues that large-scale deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) is essential for the EU to reach climate neutrality by 2050, with estimates suggesting a need to capture between 490 and 600 million tonnes of CO2 annually by that date. It highlights that current deployment is significantly below the required trajectory due to inadequate policies and a lack of storage sites outside the North Sea. The brief advocates for the development of shared CO2 transport and storage 'hubs' and cross-border networks to reduce costs for industrial emitters, particularly in Southern, Central, and Eastern Europe. It specifically urges EU Member States to use the 2023-2024 NECP revision process to detail funding commitments, deployment targets, and storage capacity to align with the Net Zero Industry Act's target of 50 million tonnes of annual injection capacity by 2030.

The Porthos project is a pioneer CCS initiative designed to transport and store CO2 from the Port of Rotterdam in depleted gas fields under the North Sea. It is presented as a critical component for the Netherlands to meet its target of reducing CO2 emissions by 55% by 2030, as the industrial sector must reduce emissions by 60% in that timeframe. Porthos is expected to provide approximately 17% of the total intended industrial CO2 reduction for 2030 and address 11% of the Port of Rotterdam's emissions. The project's infrastructure is designed for a capacity of 10 Mt CO2 per year, with a projected total storage of 37 million tonnes over 15 years. However, the project's commencement depends on a final decision by the Raad van State regarding nitrogen emission impacts on Natura 2000 areas.

The document argues that CCS is essential for decarbonising hard-to-abate industrial sectors like cement and steel and for achieving net-negative emissions after 2050. It details the technical process of capturing CO2 using amines or membranes and storing it in saline aquifers or depleted reservoirs at depths exceeding 800 metres. The text asserts that geological storage is permanent and safe, with projected annual leak rates as low as 0.0002% in regulated industries. While costs vary by source—ranging from under 90 euro per tonne for fertilisers to 700 euro for direct air capture—the document suggests that government support for shared infrastructure can drive down costs, similar to the trajectory of offshore wind. It highlights approximately 100 proposed projects in Europe, particularly around the North Sea, and notes that the EU may need to capture 300 to 600 million tonnes of CO2 annually by 2050.

The document outlines Poland's position as the EU's third-largest greenhouse gas emitter and advocates for the deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) to decarbonize energy-intensive industries. It highlights Poland's significant geological storage potential, exceeding 15 Gt of CO2, and discusses specific projects like GO4ECOPLANET and ECO2CEE. The text emphasizes that developing domestic storage and transport infrastructure is critical to reducing costs and avoiding high EU ETS emission fees.

Poland is the EU's third-largest emitter, with industrial point source fossil emissions totaling 40.6 MtCO2/year. The document argues that CCS is essential for the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries—particularly cement, steel, and fertilizer—and for providing firm power in a decarbonised energy grid. Poland possesses a significant CO2 storage potential of over 15 Gt, primarily in saline aquifers (14.3 Gt) and hydrocarbon fields (1 Gt), which could store 369 years of its annual industrial point source fossil emissions. Current projects like GO4ECOPLANET aim to decarbonise cement production at the Kujawy plant, with CO2 transported to the North Sea via the ECO2CEE project. The document highlights that developing domestic onshore storage and pipeline infrastructure could reduce transport and storage costs from €93-€100/t to between €23-€49/t. To accelerate deployment, the author recommends developing national storage resources, supporting projects to Final Investment Decision (FID) through mechanisms like carbon contracts for difference, and establishing cross-border partnerships with other EU Member States and Baltic countries.

The document highlights that methane is approximately 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over 20 years and contributes to half a degree of warming to date. In the UK, methane represents about 13% of net greenhouse gas emissions, with agriculture (58%), waste (31%), and energy (12%) as the primary sources. The UK is a signatory to the Global Methane Pledge, aiming for a collective global reduction of at least 30% by 2030 from a 2020 baseline. Analysis suggests the UK could reduce its methane emissions by at least 43% by 2030 through specific actions: implementing a methane action plan for agriculture (including feed additives and slurry management), banning oil and gas flaring by 2025 and tackling leaks in the North Sea, and banning biodegradable waste in landfills while improving biogas capture.

The position paper calls for a comprehensive German carbon management strategy that integrates CO2 capture, transport, and storage (CCS) and utilization (CCU). It emphasizes the need for quantifiable targets for technical CO2 sinks, a modernized legal framework—specifically updating the Carbon Storage Act (KSpG)—and financial incentives like Carbon Contracts for Difference (CCfD) to make these technologies economically viable. The authors advocate for enabling offshore CO2 storage in the German North Sea and facilitating international transport through the ratification of the London Protocol amendment.

The document examines the rapid scaling of offshore carbon capture and storage (CCS), highlighting that at least 38 new proposals worldwide aim to store over 165 million tonnes of CO2 annually by 2030. It argues that the technology is unproven, citing issues with Norway's flagship projects, and warns of severe risks including groundwater contamination, induced earthquakes, and CO2 leaks. A primary concern is the use of legacy oil and gas wellbores in areas like the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea, which provide pathways for leakage. The brief further contends that offshore CCS relies on leak-prone infrastructure, creates monitoring challenges for regulators, and threatens marine ecosystems through acidification. Economically, it asserts that these projects depend on public subsidies, diverting funds from renewable energy. Finally, it claims CCS fails to deliver promised emissions reductions and often facilitates enhanced oil recovery (EOR), thereby prolonging fossil fuel reliance.

ClientEarth's feedback on the EU's Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy emphasizes the need for high environmental standards, public transparency, and regional cooperation. It argues that the strategy must adhere to the 'do no harm' principle and the precautionary principle, ensuring that the deployment of offshore wind and other ocean energies does not compromise biodiversity or ignore the rights of public participation under the Aarhus Convention. The document suggests a regional approach to grid development and targeted financial support for technologies that have not yet reached grid parity, such as wave energy.

A coalition of NGOs recommends drastic reductions in fishing quotas for the Baltic Sea in 2024, including zero-catch limits for several cod and herring stocks. The authors argue that current single-species management fails to account for ecosystem dynamics, bycatch, and climate change, urging the EU to implement stricter monitoring and selective gear requirements.

The document outlines five key priorities for the 2019 discard plan joint recommendations (JRs), emphasizing that the landing obligation must cover all species subject to catch limits and that exemptions must be based on rigorous scientific evidence. The authors argue against using de minimis exemptions to solve quota-related choke issues and call for improved documentation of discards to ensure reliable stock assessments.

A coalition of NGOs recommends strict Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for Baltic Sea fish stocks for 2022, emphasizing the need to adhere to Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) and the precautionary approach. The document calls for zero catches for several critically depleted stocks, including eastern and western Baltic cod and western Baltic spring spawning herring. It advocates for an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management, increased monitoring to combat the failure of the Landing Obligation, and improved transparency in the EU's decision-making process.

A coalition of NGOs urges the EU to set 2023 Baltic Sea fishing limits at or below scientific advice, specifically recommending zero catches for several cod and herring stocks. The document argues that current management fails to account for ecosystem dynamics, climate change, and widespread non-compliance with the Landing Obligation, calling for mandatory remote electronic monitoring and a transition away from bottom trawling.

The joint NGO response argues that EU fisheries management fails to fully implement the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), leading to missed deadlines for ending overfishing. The authors contend that Total Allowable Catches (TACs) are routinely set above scientific advice, particularly for depleted stocks caught as bycatch, which creates a cycle of overexploitation and 'choke' situations. They recommend setting fishing opportunities well below the 'headline' scientific advice from ICES to account for ecosystem dynamics and uncertainties. Key demands include the full implementation of the Landing Obligation, the roll-out of Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM), and the rejection of any revisions to the Western Mediterranean multiannual plan (MAP) that would weaken its objectives.

The document argues that EU fisheries ministers must adhere to the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) to end overfishing. It provides specific TAC recommendations for cod, herring, sprat, plaice, and salmon, emphasizing a precautionary, ecosystem-based approach to protect biodiversity and restore marine foodweb functionality in the Baltic Sea.