The UN Climate Conference in Poznan from December 1st to December 12th is the last large-scale climate meeting before the decisive climate meeting in Copenhagen. Making it a point to be an active participant in these important talks, Bellona will have its Brussels branch director Paal Frisvold deliver a series of presentations on the pressing issue of CO2 capture and storage, and Bellona President Frederic Hauge will host a CO2 capture conference.
Bellona’s Poznan lecture series:
December 2nd at 13:00 :“The EU Demonstration Programme for CO2 Capture and Storage” by Paal Frisvold. Frisvold will hold a lecture on behalf of the European Union’s (EU) Technology Platform on Zero Emission Fossil Fuel Power Plants (ZEP) at the EU commission’s side event on CO2 capture and storage (CCS). He will show in this lecture that this technology is ready to be put into use. The lecture will take place in Pavilion 9 in the EU tent.
December 3rd at 19:30-20:00: “Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): Making It Happen,“ by Paal Frisvold. Frisvold is one of three chair people that will speak about why it is important to immediately set ***CO2 capture and storage in motion. This is an EU Commission side event and will be held in the Fox Room.
December 8th, 16:30-18:15: CO2 Capture Flagship Programme (not public). Frederic Hauge is moderator and chairman of this conference arranged by the European Parliament’s Energy Forum by virtue of his presidency of the Bellona Foundation and vice-foremanship of the EU’s Technology Platform on Zero Emission Fossil Fuel Power Plants (ZEP). The panel included Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for science and research, former Polish Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek, Member of European Parliament Chris Davies, the Liberal Democrat spokesman on the environment and public health in the European Parliament. In the Bedlewo suburb of Poznan.
Bellona’s expectations of the Poznan meeting:
CO2 Capture and Storage (CCS): We were not in possession of this tool when the Kyoto Protocol was ratified. Bellona’s reckoning indicates that CO2 capture and storage will become a part of the next climate agreement, presumably in a new mechanism for technology transfer and development in poorer nations.
Technology and financing: Technology transfer and development will be central in Poznan. Bellona considers it important for wealthier nations to go forth and set a good paradigm now that this concerns financing and economic contributions. The financial crisis is no excuse not to seek solutions to the climate crisis.
The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): Simplification of regulation work, as well as group approval of similar programmes can open the door for many smaller projects.
The 2 degree goal: Norway and the EU are holding fast to the two-degree level. This is still realistic – and necessary – to hinder global warming that exceeds two degrees in order to forgo large and irreversible climate changes. An emissions goal must be set in Poznan.
‘Middle ground’ nations: Countries like Mexico, South Korea, Brazil, India, Russia and China must set their own climate obligations and evaluate themselves differently from the way the poorest nations evaluate their obligations.
A global climate agreement and the role of the United States: Norway is working hard to come to a deal that includes all countries. US President-elect Barack Obama’s climate goal underscore the possibility of achieving this. Through its network, Bellona will do all it can to build bridges between the United States and Russia.
Contacts:
Bellona Information Advisor Tone Foss Aspevoll (+47 91 72 02 67, tone@bellona.no) for comment inquiries and interviews, information about the negotiations, and access to our international networks of politicians and researchers.
Bellona Vice-President Marius Holm (+47 95 72 16 32) is avaialble for press comment in Oslo.
