The European commission and European parliament have invested great efforts in driving the debate around climate change goals for 2030. We now have a framework proposal that provides a strong foundation for achieving these goals and developing a competitive low-carbon economy.

That the proposal underscores the value of CCS in achieving climate change targets is a significant step in the right direction. However, we must not become complacent and fail to introduce the policy elements that will facilitate a successful future for CCS.

At the core of the commission's proposal is the target to reduce EU domestic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2030, which is a positive step towards the goal of an 80 to 95 per cent reduction by 2050.

The commission's renewed commitment to CCS, particularly underlining its value for decarbonising the European power sector and carbon-intensive industries, emphasises the significant role CCS must play in meeting this target.

Zero emissions platform (ZEP) research has already demonstrated that the power sector in Europe cannot be cost-effectively decarbonised without CCS, and that it is crucial for maintaining jobs and preserving the industrial base, as it is the only decarbonisation option for many energy-intensive industries.

We urgently need EU transitional support measures and an ambitious milestone for CCS if we are to create the right environment for the technology to flourish.

While the 2030 framework proposal calls for increased research and development efforts and commercial demonstration projects in CCS we need an ambitious EU milestone that would provide the necessary level playing field vis-à-vis other low-carbon technologies.

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Source: The Parliament, 13 Feb 2014 by Graeme Sweeney