To achieve the goal of being climate neutral by 2045, the German government wants to store CO₂ emissions from certain industries on the high seas in the future. “The technology is safe,” Economic Affairs Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) emphasized on Monday.
In concrete terms, climate-damaging emissions must be captured and stored in the seabed. Storage on land, which is controversial even among scientists, will remain prohibited.
Do not store in marine protected areas
The German government has not yet decided when Habeck can implement his plan. The Ministry of the Environment, led by the Greens, pointed out that interdepartmental coordination had only just begun. It is good that Habeck emphasized that this should not happen in marine protected areas, a spokesperson in Berlin said on Monday. A spokesperson for Habeck’s Ministry of Economic Affairs explained the difference between the desired storage under the seabed and the ban on storage on land, saying that this would be difficult there due to the population density.
Habeck referred to other countries such as Norway and Denmark, where such storage facilities have long existed. German Environmental Aid spoke of “life-extending measures for fossil gas power stations”. In addition, the North Sea is being converted into a waste processing park. “We call on the federal cabinet and the Bundestag not to agree to this proposal.” According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the focus is on CO₂ emissions that are difficult or impossible to avoid. Government funding is provided here.
Controversial: Will CO₂ storage sites remain permanently closed?
Greenpeace also criticized the plans. The strategy bears the characteristics of the sector. It enables ‘business as usual’ and delays measures to prevent emissions, according to Greenpeace energy expert Karsten Smid. A gigantic disposal infrastructure must be created. “Cross-border trade in CO₂ waste promotes a new business model: the more carbon dioxide, the more money can be made.” Moreover, it has not been scientifically proven that the CO₂ storage facilities remain permanently closed.
The government in Vienna also wants to reverse the storage ban
Austria also has a ban on underground storage, as there are concerns about possible environmental damage if the CO₂ were to suddenly escape. Both the responsible Mining Minister Magnus Brunner and Chancellor Karl Nehammer (both ÖVP) want to reverse this ban.
Source: Krone
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