Comment:Visions » Carbon Emissions

The European Emissions Trading System – 2020 & beyond

Robert Zlokower — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:07:50 +0000

Launched 2005, the EU Emissions Trading System is designed to help member states achieve their commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020, allowing participating organizations and states to buy-and-sell emissions allowances as they need.

But the recent lull in manufacturing and therefore demand for power in the wake of the global financial crisis has created a false reduction in emissions since 2008 that can only rise as the economy re-starts – and this has driven down the price of carbon traded on the open market as credits remain unused.

Now approaching its third phase, what impact has the ETS had in Europe to date?

Can CCS Work?

Editor — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 08:46:28 +0000

The world will continue to rely on fossil fuel to supply the bulk of its energy for decades to come. So, finding ways to reduce the carbon emissions that come from burning these fuels is a major challenge that must be addressed.
An important opportunity for reducing these emissions is through the introduction of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology.

How can we?
There are various technologies already in use to capture the CO2, however implementing CCS on a global scale presents significant challenges in its own right.

Speeding up installation, reducing cost, creating an effective transport infrastructure and overcoming community resistance to local storage facilities are all priorities that need to be addressed.

If adoption of Carbon Capture and Storage is urgent, then why isn’t it happening faster?

Carbon capture and storage – a solution to climate change?

Editor — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 12:24:47 +0000

How Can We Solve the Challenge of Climate Change?

Editor — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:09:29 +0000

With the dynamics, the consequences and the solutions regarding climate change subject to fierce ongoing debate, this month’s Comment Visions gets an expert’s perspective on the issues.

An international authority on the polar regions and a distinguished glaciologist and climatologist, Dr. Olav Orheim has been researching the polar regions for more than 30 years. He has visited the Arctic 50 times and made 18 field trips to the Antarctic. Dr. Orheim has seen up close the effects of climate change, having spent over two decades as the Director of Research at Norway’s Polar Research Institute. He was made a Knight of the Order of St. Olaf in 2007 for his services to polar research.

With the future extent of climate change as yet unknown the search for political and practical solutions remains vital and Olaf Orheim looks at what can be done to engage with the problem.