Labour’s carbon-capture scheme will be Starmer’s white elephant: a terrible mistake costing billions | George Monbiot

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Government’s Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Scheme

Introduction

This report discusses the government’s plan for carbon capture and storage (CCS) and its implications for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The CCS scheme aims to capture carbon dioxide from major industries and store it underground in rocks beneath the North Sea. However, there are concerns about the effectiveness and cost of this scheme.

Condition 1: Funding and Cheaper Alternatives

One condition for supporting a CCS programme is that funding should be allocated to cheaper and more effective projects first. Unfortunately, the government has reduced its green prosperity plan and cut funding for projects such as home insulation. This raises questions about the prioritization of funds and the potential for more cost-effective alternatives to achieve the SDGs.

Condition 2: Impact on Emissions and Decarbonization

The government claims that its CCS scheme will have a positive impact on emissions, equivalent to taking 4 million cars off the road. However, a rational transport policy and nature restoration programs could achieve similar emissions reductions at a lower cost, while also providing additional benefits such as improved mobility and reduced air pollution. It is important to consider the overall impact on decarbonization and whether CCS is the most effective solution.

Condition 3: Audit of Unavoidable Emissions

An audit of carbon emissions that cannot be eliminated by other means is necessary to assess the need for CCS. The government claims that there are no viable alternatives for decarbonizing key industrial sectors, such as cement production. However, alternative technologies such as geopolymeric cement and green hydrogen for steel production should be considered. Without a comprehensive audit, the decision to deploy CCS may be premature and not aligned with the SDGs.

Concerns and Criticisms

Cost and Effectiveness

The budget for the CCS scheme is £21.7 billion for construction alone, but past failures and cost escalations raise doubts about the accuracy of this estimate. Additionally, an analysis by Oxford University shows that CCS is economically damaging and its costs have not decreased over the past 40 years. The government’s reassurances about cost control are vague and do not provide confidence in the financial viability of the scheme.

Impact on Emissions and Fossil Fuel Dependency

The government’s CCS decision has been influenced by lobbying from oil and gas companies, as it allows for continued fossil fuel production. The use of blue hydrogen, made from fossil gas, in the CCS scheme would greatly increase overall emissions and lead to a dependency on imported liquefied gas. This contradicts the goal of decarbonization and raises concerns about the long-term sustainability of the scheme.

Lack of Transparency and Accountability

The government’s decision to disregard the principle of achieving an overall reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for its CCS programme raises questions about transparency and accountability. The lack of updated documents and the influence of fossil fuel lobbyists suggest that political motivations and corporate interests may be prioritized over the SDGs.

Conclusion

The government’s CCS scheme raises significant concerns about its cost, effectiveness, and alignment with the SDGs. Cheaper and more sustainable alternatives, such as rational transport policies and nature restoration programs, should be considered. An audit of unavoidable emissions and a transparent decision-making process are necessary to ensure that the CCS scheme is the most appropriate solution for achieving the SDGs. Without these measures, the government’s approach to CCS may be fiscally irresponsible and environmentally damaging.

• Author: George Monbiot

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to these SDGs because they discuss the government’s plan for carbon capture and storage (CCS), which is related to clean energy, industry, infrastructure, climate action, and the restoration of nature.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
• SDG 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.
• SDG 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
• SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
• SDG 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

These targets are relevant to the issues discussed in the article because they emphasize the need for renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, improved air quality, climate resilience, and the protection of natural habitats.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator: Share of renewable energy in the energy mix
• Indicator: Investment in sustainable infrastructure and clean technologies
• Indicator: Air quality levels in cities
• Indicator: Resilience to climate-related hazards and natural disasters
• Indicator: Extent of degradation of natural habitats and biodiversity loss

These indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets by assessing the proportion of renewable energy, the level of investment in sustainable infrastructure, air quality measurements, resilience to climate-related hazards, and the state of natural habitats and biodiversity.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: theguardian.com