The Paris Agreement on climate change was a landmark international agreement signed in 2015 by 196 countries. One of the key goals of the Paris Agreement is to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with a preference for limiting warming to just 1.5 degrees Celsius.
To achieve this goal, many countries have turned to carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. CCS involves capturing carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and industrial facilities, and then storing them underground or repurposing them for other uses. This process helps to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere, which is a major contributor to global warming.
The Paris Agreement recognizes the importance of CCS technology, and supports its deployment on a large scale. In fact, one of the key provisions of the agreement is to enhance the deployment of CCS, as well as other low-carbon technologies, in order to achieve a significant reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions.
There are several benefits to using CCS technology. For one, it allows us to continue using fossil fuels – which are still an important part of our energy mix – without contributing to global warming. In addition, CCS can help to reduce the cost of meeting our climate goals, as it is often less expensive than transitioning to entirely new energy sources.
Despite these benefits, however, CCS still faces some significant challenges. For one, it can be expensive to implement and maintain. In addition, there is some concern about the safety of storing large amounts of carbon dioxide underground, as well as the possibility of leaks and other environmental risks.
Despite these challenges, many countries are still investing heavily in CCS technology. In fact, the International Energy Agency estimates that the world will need to capture and store between 4 and 7 gigatons of carbon dioxide per year by 2040 in order to achieve our climate goals.
Overall, the Paris Agreement on climate change represents a historic effort to address the urgent threat of global warming. And while CCS is just one of many solutions that will be needed to achieve our goals, it is an important tool that can help us to reduce our carbon footprint and create a more sustainable future for all.
