Decarbonisation Technology - November 2021

COP26 SPECIAL

Transformational potential for climate change mitigation A broad review and some specific implications for the oil and gas sector

Stephen B. Harrison sbh4

Non-linear, non-reversible, unpredictable trajectory calls for widespread, urgent action The pace of climate change is exponential and many of its effects will be irreversible. The thawing tundra in Siberia is generating a layer of dry combustible material on the forest floor – tinder for wild-fires that destroy beneficial trees and generate carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions with no useful energy capture. Due to climate change, flooding, drought, and starvation will be inevitable, as will increased levels of poverty in many locations. Both Madagascar and Zambia are reporting their worst droughts in over 40 years, with consequential food shortages, famine, and thousands of premature deaths. The finger of blame is clearly pointing at climate change and urgent action is required to reduce CO 2 , methane, and F-Gas emissions from many industrial sectors, including oil and gas processing. There are enough solutions out there to create hope and enable the positive changes that are required. COP26 must be a platform to raise awareness of the issues, stimulate education about the solutions, and propose policy frameworks that stimulate implementation and international collaboration. Price of prevention is less than the cost of catastrophe The business case for prevention is clear at a conceptual level, and a myriad of technologies exists. Many can readily be implemented if there is enough inspirational corporate action, the right regulatory environment, and visionary

political leadership. COP26 is the platform where the consequences of climate change must be presented impactfully and effectively. And the outcomes from the meeting must be transformative, collaborative, international solutions for immediate implementation. There is a price to be borne, but failure to act will cost the earth. Policy leadership ahead of COP26 is coming from several directions. As an example, India could force oil refineries and urea fertiliser plants to use green hydrogen as a portion of their hydrogen production under draft plans sent for cabinet approval by the Indian Government’s Power and Renewable Energy minister, RK Singh. This is proposed as the first stage of a national plan to secure a leading role for green hydrogen in the energy transition. Methane emissions reduction has also been in focus in the run up to COP26. On behalf of the European Union and the United States, European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, and President Biden used the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF) to announce the ‘Global Methane Pledge’ on the 18th of September. It will be launched at COP 26 in November, in Glasgow. Several other nations have already signalled their support, and countries joining the Global Methane Pledge will commit to a collective goal of reducing global methane emissions by at least 30% from 2020 levels by 2030. To monitor and implement progress, countries that have committed to the pledge must move towards best available inventory methodologies to quantify methane emissions, with a particular