Benjamin Sporton, WCA Policy Director
Earlier today in a landmark decision the CMP decided to include carbon capture and storage technology (CCS) in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). This decision comes after five years of campaigning by the WCA and other organisations when some had said it was a dead issue. There has been extensive debate at UN negotiations in recent years and a year of tough negotiations in 2011 following the preliminary decision at COP16/CMP6 in Cancun last year.
The decision comes on a day when negotiators are still struggling late on the final day of the COP to find solutions on other issues, including the future of the Kyoto Protocol. The uncertain future of the protocol also leaves some doubt over the future of the CDM although most observers and legal experts believe the CDM will continue regardless of whether there are further commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.
Regardless of that, inclusion of CCS in the CDM this reflects final international acceptance that CCS is as legitimate a low carbon technology as wind and solar. It support use of the technology in developing countries, bringing clean, reliable, base load electricity to the developing world which struggles with 1.3 billion people lacking access to electricity.
The decision also provides a set of internationally accepted rules for CCS projects, dealing with key issues such as site selection, liability and environmental assurance. It also sets an important precedent for the inclusion of CCS into other financing and technology support mechanisms.
