Carbon capture stations should not be delayed

Carbon emissions are continuing to rise despite the economic slowdown and rising oil and gas prices.

By the end of 2008, the world would have used 50% more gas, coal and oil than in 1980. The harmful emissions due to fossil fuels would become than thirty percent than the base line year of 1990 agreed to during Kyoto agreement.

Climate change prevention is a complex global issue. Actions of one country or just an individual can appear to be futile.   But there is much that can be done by using proven technology. For example, energy efficiency can be improved by almost 20% by adopting Japanese standards. Deforestation can be controlled and even reversed. Proven technologies of recycling, solar and wind power generation can be implemented. Long term options may include large scale solar power generation in Sahara and connecting it to an international grid.

But all this is a race against time. Use of fossil fuel based energy is continuing to rise on a global level. More than eighty percent of global energy demand is still being met through natural gas, coal and oil. As per current projections, the figures are not going to change much even by 2030.

There is an urgent need to capture the carbon emissions. It has been demonstrated on a small scale that carbon emissions can be captured, extracted and buried. G8 nations and EU have accepted this approach. However, nothing much is being done about it. There is an urgent need to invest in this technology as we are going to remain dependent on fossil fuels in the foreseeable future.