Environmental Assessment for CO₂ Capture and Storage

Publication Overview

This report examines the frameworks for Environmental Impact assessment in use around the world and how adequate they will be for application to CCS projects. It also reviews the gaps in the knowledge which will be required to carry out effective assessments and projects future trends in the scope and application of EIA. Requirements for an internationally applicable framework for CCS projects are outlined.

Publication Summary

Because CCS is a new technology existing EIA/SEA frameworks are not tailored to cover a number of its essential requirements. It is possible that in practice they would be interpreted or extended to do so but this is by no means certain. It is a main conclusion that ESHIA should be a requirement of all CCS projects and that it would be worthwhile to develop an internationally accepted framework. This could then be used by countries with weak or non-existent EIA/SEA frameworks when they undertake CCS projects. Countries or organisations with a proven framework could refer to the international framework when considering adaptations of their own frameworks to cover CCS.

There are gaps in knowledge about the effects of CO₂ on land and particularly marine environments. Further research is needed in these areas. Guidance on how to address the balance between local environmental effects and long term and global climate change effects is needed. Further, when such guidance is developed, it will need to be updated as experience with CCS is gained and the volumes of stored CO₂ mount.

Assignment of long term liabilities and provision of financial cover remains a key issue. Liability is expected to be addressed when finalising EIA in the context of granting permits for CCS. Whilst the report puts forwards some proposals it is clear that much further work has to be done to resolve this.