Notwithstanding various contradicting reports from leading research centres on the reasons for climate change, and differing results of climate models, there is no denying the soundness of the theory of the greenhouse gas effect on global warming. Over the past few weeks, there has been much discussion on climate change, and T&T's contribution to the problem via emis- sion rates of carbon dioxide. Frequent reference has been made in all of the daily newspapers to a 2008 UTT study by Boodlal and Furlonge, for which some further details and clarification may be worthwhile. The study computed theoretical carbon dioxide emission levels from all major sources in T&T, using guidelines from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Total emissions, net of that converted by trees, amounted to an estimated 23 million tonnes (mt) in 2007.
Sources include petrochemical, 56 per cent (comprising mainly LNG 20 per cent, net ammonia 11 per cent, iron and steel 11 per cent); electricity generation, 28 per cent; transportation, 11 per cent; manufacturing (light and commercial); four per cent, and residential, one per cent. Based on current planned energy projects and growth in other sectors, this will increase significantly to about 40 mt by 2012. Any high-impact mitigation strategy must therefore focus on the large emitters, one solution being CCS–carbon capture (from process streams in industrial plants) and storage (in underground reservoirs, such as saline aquifers or spent reservoirs).
Geological feasibility and leakage risk assessment is still under investigation.
Economic viability rests on its use in enhanced oil recovery, appropriate fiscal regime, and CCS being declared a clean development mechanism project for which certified emission reduction credits can be sold. There is also scope for improvements in energy efficiency and energy conservation in all sectors. Research, development and deployment of the latest technology would be required. Opportunities to reduce GHGs include reduced flaring in production activities, compression of boil-off natural gas at LNG facilities, integration of waste heat at the Point Lisas Industrial Estate, combined heat and power generation, phase-out of incandescent light bulbs, energy-efficient building codes, better transportation infrastructure to reduce traffic jams, and natural gas for air- conditioning and as a transport fuel.
Renewable energy is treated as a luxury item on the shelves of our energy and economic policies that rest on the exploitation of fossil fuels. The economic envelope in feasibility studies on these opportunities must consider environmental costs. Internationally acceptable standards for quantifying emissions, measuring and reporting must be adopted for any of these to go ahead. Other GHGs such as methane and nitrous oxides need to be taken into account since these have a greater greenhouse effect on a unit basis than carbon dioxide. Given that T&T's contributes about 0.1 per cent of world annual emissions, the argument of using the total national emission level (as opposed to per capita) as a basis for imposed limits and penalties is a strong negotiating position for leveraging technology and financial support.
Yet there is no denying that on average each citizen of this country either consumes or economically benefits from the consump- tion of fossil fuels to a greater extent than citizens from most other parts of the world. Further, carbon dioxide mole-cules do not travel with national passports and have the same effect on the climate regardless of geographical source. As a small island developing state, which is amongst the most vulnerable worldwide, we need to recognise that this country is behind schedule in assessing its situation and implementing appro- priate policies, strategies, and institutional structure. The Kyoto Protocol is due to expire in 2012 and T&T is yet to act significantly on it and to benefit from it.
H Furlonge,
via e-mail