Environmental analysis news: UN 'undecided' over use of carbon capture and storage technology

A UN draft paper released at the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference has suggested that developed countries may not be allowed to use carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to offset their CO2 emissions.

The decision of whether to include CCS on a list of UN-approved methods to reduce the output of greenhouse gases will not be made until the organisation's technical board have compiled a report.

According to the document, some nations have raised concerns about the implications of the technology's inclusion on the list and highlighted several issues that need further attention.

It stated: "In order for carbon dioxide capture and storage in geological formations to be included under the clean development mechanism, long-term liability for the storage site must be clearly assigned."

This could be a blow for countries including the US, the UK and Germany, as these nations have already invested substantial amounts of money in CCS technology projects.

Posted by Joseph Hutton