Launch Event of EASAC Report "Carbon Capture and Storage", 22 May 2013 in Brussels

On Wednesday 22 May EASAC organised a public event to present its latest policy report "Carbon capture and storage in Europe". The new report examines the challenges that must be addressed to secure CCS as a viable component of strategies to mitigate climate change, and consequently to consider what contribution it may make in Europe to 2050. The aim of the event was to discuss the recommendations with relevant policy makers and stakeholders. 

The launch event was opened by Sir Brian Heap, President of EASAC, followed by the chair of the EASAC working group Professor Herbert Huppert, Director of the Institute of Theoretical Geophysics, University of Cambridge, who presented the scientific findings of the report.  

The presentations were followed by a panel discussion - moderated by Professor Anne Glover, Chief Scientific Advisor to the President of the European Commission - featuring interventions from the following experts:  Hans Van Steen, Head of Unit, DG Energy, European Commission; Rebecca Collyer, Deputy Director, Power Programme, European Climate Foundation; Sanjeev Kumar, Senior Associate at E3G and founder at The Change Partnership and Paal Frisvold, Chairman of Bellona Europa. 

The debate was very active and polarised on the role of CCS in tackling not only climate change but also decarbonisation of Europe's electricity systems. Although the panellists had different views on the topic, they all agreed on the need to secure CCS as a viable component of EU strategies.