Coal Industry Welcomes Launch of Global Carbon Capture & Storage Institute
16 April 2009
CANBERRA – The World Coal Institute has welcomed the official launch of the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute (GCCSI) by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and called on governments worldwide to support actions to tackle climate change.
Speaking at the GCCSI’s First Foundation Members Meeting in Canberra, World Coal Institute (WCI) Chief Executive, Milton Catelin, stated: “Australia is to be commended for its commitment to CCS technology. The GCCSI has a vital role to play in helping to expedite the global deployment of CCS and raise awareness of the importance of this technology in our efforts to tackle climate change.”
“Industry is fully committed to the earliest deployment of CCS technologies worldwide. The Australian government has demonstrated its commitment to CCS. What we now need is governments worldwide to come on board and demonstrate their commitment to tackling climate change by fully supporting the GCCSI”.
The GCCSI was formed in September 2008 and will receive annual funding of A$100 million a year from the Australian government. It will support international efforts to deploy commercial-scale CCS projects by 2020 and will be an international “go-to” place for CCS services and advice.
“Carbon capture and storage has to be part of any serious and affordable climate change strategy. The International Energy Agency tells us that stabilising emissions without CCS is not only impossible but raises costs by over 70% - an additional annual cost of US$1.28 trillion by 2050,” said Mr Catelin.
“If governments are serious about tackling climate change, then they need to get serious about investing in all low carbon technologies, including CCS. We call on governments worldwide to match their climate rhetoric with action and support the GCCSI”.
Notes to Editors
- The GCCSI’s First Foundation Member’s Meeting was held in Canberra from 16-17 April 2009.
- There are 85 Founding Members of the GCCSI, including: 18 governments from the developed and developing world; the Asia Development Bank; the Japan Bank for International Cooperation; over 40 companies; and 18 non-governmental organisations, including the Clinton Foundation, Electric Power and Research Institute (EPRI), the Climate Group and the World Coal Institute.
For further information, please contact:
Katie Mills, Manager – Communications
kmills@worldcoal.org
44 (0) 20 7851 0052
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd officially launched the GCCSI at the First Foundation Members Meeting in Canberra.
