Technology battle against CO2 and climate change
Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of our time. With record temperatures and CO2 emissions in 2023, the 1.5-degree climate target seems to be receding ever further into the distance. In this situation, carbon capture and storage technology (CCS) is increasingly coming into focus. This is a technology for capturing and storing CO2 underground, which was a rather theoretical option for a long time, but is now becoming increasingly important due to the pressure to act to save the climate.
The Green Party, which has long taken a critical stance towards CCS, is now showing a rethink. It sees the technology as an important instrument for dealing with the residual emissions that are unavoidable in certain industries according to the current state of the art. However, CCS should only be used under strict conditions and for certain sectors. Green politician and Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Robert Habeck has already concluded an agreement with Norway at the beginning of 2023. They have several years of experience with CO2 injection. Their business model also envisages storing CO2 from other countries.
Despite the positive reassessment of CCS, the topic remains politically controversial. Critics and environmental organisations fear that CO2 could escape from underground storage sites and damage the marine environment. The safety of storage in old gas wells under the North Sea is also being questioned.
This raises the question of alternatives. Various methods are known, ranging from reforestation and accelerated weathering of rocks to iron fertilisation in the sea. None of these methods alone can slow down climate change and each has its price and risks.
Another option is Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS) technology, in which huge CO2 extractors simply remove carbon dioxide from the air. However, DACCS is very complex and expensive and requires a lot of energy, which has to be generated in a completely climate-neutral way.
BECCS (Bio Energy with Carbon Capture and Storage) is another option in which energy is generated by burning plant material or manure and the CO2 released in the process can be captured and stored immediately.
Despite the different approaches and the associated challenges, the researchers agree that it is necessary to pursue as many approaches to carbon dioxide removal as possible and to develop them alongside each other. We must not wait for the technical miracle weapon to be invented at some point that will enable us to curb CO2 emissions.
CCS technology and other methods of CO2 removal can be a correct and important building block in the fight against climate change. However, they are not a licence to continue emitting CO2, but must be part of a comprehensive climate protection strategy. It is important that we continue to look for ways to reduce our CO2 emissions while continuing to develop and deploy carbon capture technologies.