COP21 - Coal the Problem, Full-Stop
Today, when it comes to efforts to mitigate climate change, one representative of the natural gas industry tells Natural Gas Europe, “The problem is coal – full stop.”
As representatives – including 150 heads of state - convene in Paris, France this week at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (“COP21”), natural gas representatives and those of other industries are left watching from the sidelines, not permitted in the “blue zone,” where the 196 national delegations, intergovernmental bodies and journalists convene.
According to the natural gas rep (who preferred not to be named), coal displacement is the low-hanging fruit, when it comes to climate change. “And no one is trying to really tackle it, that is to stop using coal in power generation in Europe,” the party explains.
In terms of maintaining competitiveness and tackling climate change, the natural gas industry maintains that this may be the cheapest way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the near future. While the European Union may appear to be taking actions that are designed to tackle climate change, it is not picking the low-hanging fruit. “This is kind of bizarre and not really consistent,” commented the industry representative.
He says that while this may not be a politically correct thing to say, it is better to tackle the first polluters first; later the second one will also be taken on. “In the interim, we may have found other ways – carbon capture storage (CCS), etc.”
While some may criticize the US for not committing to strict climate targets, not to mention developing shale gas, in the end they are reducing CO2 emissions via coal switching, he points out.
“Let's be realistic and objective – the Americans have done the job,” he says of the US CO2 reductions.
And, in the zeal to save the climate, will the hydrocarbons industry be thrown under the bus? Can we maintain economic competitiveness in light of strict carbon targets to help save the planet?
Some in the gas industry say that you either believe in climate change or you don't. Some natural gas industry groups believe that it does exist, that it should be tackled and the right decisions should be taken. If you believe in it, how can one not take action, taking into consideration each country's wealth, state of development, etc.? Still, everyone has to make their contribution to combatting climate change.
Maintaining competitiveness is an issue, the gas industry representative says, but something that can be managed.
“It has to be balanced, and well thought through, but we have no choice,” he opined.
-Drew Leifheit