Climate change is undisputable one of the most important and most discussed topics in the 21st century so far. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change observed in his “Fourth Assessment Report on Climate Change” in 2007 that within the period of 1906 to 2005 the climate changed significantly. Global warming, increasing precipitation and a sea-level rise are just some indicators supporting the findings. One of the major causes leading to climate change is the increasing carbon dioxide concentration in the air mainly due to the use of fossil fuels.
The International Energy Agency outlined that with the lack of new energy sources or at least changed energy policies, the energy-related CO2 emissions in 2050 will be twice the level of 2007. Therefore, politicians and scientists all over the world are making a huge effort to develop and provide measures for reducing the emissions of CO2 and other global warming gases. Besides the more famous accomplishments such as the subsidization of renewable energy sources or emission trading a new technology emerged in the past decade, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).
It can be described, in general, as a technique to reduce CO2 emissions into the atmosphere by sequestrating it from fossil fuels and storing it into geological formations in the ground or in the sub-seabed. In chapter “B” this paper will give an overview about the technological concept of CCS and the various approaches that are currently examined by scientists.
CCS is seen as one of the most feasible climate change mitigation options due to its capability to reduce the emission of CO2 into the atmosphere without abandoning the use of fossil fuels. To do justice to this rating, it is necessary to support the deployment of CCS by developing and constructing legal frameworks and regulations that are flexible enough to allow for new technological advancements. The European Union is taking a big step forward with its Directive 2009/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council by creating a regulatory framework for the geological storage of CO2.
Table of Contents
A. Introduction
B. Technical Basics of CCS
I. Capture
II. Transportation
III. Storage
C. International maritime waste agreements
I. The 1982 UNCLOS
II. The 1972 London Convention
III. The 1996 London Protocol
IV. The 1992 OSPAR Convention
D. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
The paper examines the current status, progress, and regulatory challenges of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) within the context of international maritime agreements. It specifically analyzes whether existing legal frameworks, which were not originally designed for CCS, act as barriers to the technology's deployment and evaluates the efforts made to amend these agreements for sub-seabed storage.
- Technical requirements and methodologies for CCS implementation.
- Compatibility of CCS with international maritime law, including UNCLOS.
- Regulatory shifts within the London Convention and London Protocol.
- The role of the OSPAR Convention in managing offshore CO2 storage.
- Legal challenges regarding the transboundary movement of CO2.
Excerpt from the Book
C. International maritime waste agreements
The main problem with the international maritime agreements is that they have not been composed to deal with new emerging technologies such as CCS. Therefore, none of them included in its original version provisions for the storage of CO2 in the sub-seabed. Nevertheless, all of them provide or at least provided rules which could possible interfere with the concept of CCS. In the following, it will be outlined which current state the various agreements have, which issues have to be solved and which process has been made so far.
I. The 1982 UNCLOS
The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea from 1982 is a framework agreement which supplies a protection to all marine areas. It was necessary to establish such a framework due to the special character of the seas. The preamble points out that the convention shall be an important step to settle all issues relating to the law of the seas and shall help to maintain peace, justice and progress all over the world.
Summary of Chapters
A. Introduction: This chapter highlights the urgency of climate change and identifies CCS as a crucial, albeit transitory, technological solution for CO2 emission reduction.
B. Technical Basics of CCS: This section details the three fundamental stages of the CCS process: capture methods (post-combustion, pre-combustion, and oxyfuel), transportation via pipelines, and geological storage in sub-seabed or terrestrial formations.
C. International maritime waste agreements: This core chapter critically analyzes four major legal regimes—UNCLOS, the London Convention, the London Protocol, and the OSPAR Convention—to assess their capacity to regulate or permit offshore CO2 storage.
D. Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes the necessity of harmonizing international law to support CCS, while emphasizing that CCS should not distract from the long-term objective of transitioning to renewable energy.
Keywords
Carbon Capture and Storage, CCS, International Maritime Law, UNCLOS, London Convention, London Protocol, OSPAR Convention, Climate Change Mitigation, Greenhouse Gases, Sub-seabed Storage, Environmental Regulation, Transboundary Movement, CO2 Emissions, Fossil Fuels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper explores the legal viability of implementing Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies under existing international maritime regulations.
What are the central themes discussed?
The central themes include the technical aspects of CO2 capture and storage, the regulatory hurdles posed by international treaties, and the progress in amending these laws to facilitate environmental protection.
What is the author's main research goal?
The goal is to determine if current international marine waste agreements hinder the development of CCS and to examine the legal adjustments required for its implementation.
Which scientific methods are analyzed regarding CCS?
The paper reviews three capture models: post-combustion, pre-combustion, and oxyfuel combustion, alongside storage potentials in deep saline aquifers.
What is the core content of the main body?
The main body focuses on the legal examination of UNCLOS, the London Convention, the London Protocol, and the OSPAR Convention in relation to sub-seabed CO2 storage.
Which keywords best describe this research?
Key terms include CCS, international maritime law, sub-seabed storage, and climate change mitigation.
How does the 1996 London Protocol affect CCS?
The Protocol was amended to allow for the sequestration of CO2 streams in sub-seabed formations, provided they meet specific criteria, marking a significant step forward compared to the 1972 Convention.
Why is the OSPAR Convention significant for CCS?
The OSPAR Convention provides a regional framework for the North-East Atlantic that, through specific amendments in 2007, now permits the permanent storage of CO2 under strictly regulated conditions.
- Quote paper
- Fabian Junge (Author), 2011, Carbon Capture and Storage and international maritime agreements, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/183904
