By Lily Bird
As we are all aware, the climate crisis is an ongoing issue of the utmost importance. With rising global temperatures, sea levels and extreme weather events, the impacts of climate change are already being felt across the globe.
A possible solution to the ongoing climate crisis is carbon capture. Carbon capture has been a topic of controversy among both scientists and policymakers, with proponents touting it as a promising solution, while critics argue that it is only a temporary solution which does not address the cause of the issue. Recently, on Beyond the Headlines, I investigated how young people are affected by the ongoing issue of the climate and found that some feel a sense of betrayal at the lack of government initiative to get the grips with the crisis and are plagued by a sense of anxiety for the future.
Could carbon capture be a key tool in the fight against climate change and put our minds at rest? To find out more I met with Professor in Geology and Earth Science here at the University of Liverpool to discuss with him whether carbon capture is a feasible solution to the climate crisis.
What is Carbon Capture?
Carbon capture works by capturing carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes and storing or reusing the carbon in different industrial processes. Professor Daniel pointed out that due to the many industries which rely on carbon, a good use of carbon capture would be to put it back into these manufacturing processes, such as the steel industry. Those in support of carbon capture also argue that it can be used in conjunction with renewable energy sources to cut down carbon emissions.
Daniel also discussed how there is a fear that carbon capture may give the green light to oil and gas companies to keep pursuing fossil fuels and is only a superficial fix to a serious and complex issue. This is especially relevant following Rishi Sunak’s poor commitment to tackling the climate crisis. Sunak has ignored climate experts and gone ahead with investing in oil and gas, meaning that the global target to keep the temperature rising below 1.5 degrees Celsius is nearing impossible.
There are also fears about the potential dangers of carbon capture. Critics have argued that these technologies are in their early stages and that storing carbon underground could potentially be dangerous. I discussed this with Daniel who was reassuring in his response that contrary to some sensationalised media, these technologies are not so new to create concerns about safety and accidents such as leaks are unlikely. However, Daniel cited the main concern regarding carbon capture is its tremendous cost which would be difficult to fund. Again, this is not promising with the current government’s lack of commitment to investing in a green economy. The government’s Latest Energy Plan, which was outlined by Rishi Sunak over a month ago, essentially defied the advice of climate scientists and went ahead with new oil and gas developments. The policies outlined in the plan have the potential to worsen the already critical climate crisis that we face. Sunak’s track record on green policies during his time in the Treasury was disappointing, and his position as prime minister only seems to be taking the UK further away from the urgent need for decarbonization.
Overall, issues surrounding carbon capture are complex. However, it is important to bear in mind that although it could be a key step, it is by no means the answer to solving the climate crisis. As something of a climate doomer myself, I was both relieved and disappointed by my interview with Daniel. Yet, it is clear we must not rely on carbon capture and continue to strive towards a greener future using sustainable energy sources.
To find out more, listen to the full interview with Daneil on Beyond the Headlines. Link here.
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