Letter▼ International Sequestration Experiment and Conventions for the Protection of the Marine Environment In August 2002, the Norwegian Ministry of the Environment chose to turn down an application from an international research consortium to release 5.4 tonnes of CO2 into the Norwegian Sea as part of a field experiment (Environ. Sci. Technol. 2002, 36, 401A). This has angered scientists involved in the project. A group of scientists has accused the ministry of giving in to “political pressure from special interest groups” (Environ. Sci. Technol. 2002, 36, 399A). With this background, I find it necessary to explain the main reason behind the ministry’s decision. The ministry’s main concern is that the release of CO2 into the sea might violate international conventions related to the protection of the marine environment. At the last meeting of the OSPAR Commission for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic in June 2002, the proposed project was met with opposition, both in relation to possible negative effects of CO2 sequestration on the marine environment and because there is a reluctance to reopen the sea as a dumping place for waste. The meeting agreed that it was desirable to establish an agreed position on whether the placing of CO2 in the sea is consistent with the OSPAR Convention, and the Group of Jurists and Linguists was asked for advice. Out of respect for the ongoing international discussion initiated by the OSPAR Commission meeting—which hardly can be called a special interest group—the Ministry of the Environment decided to deny permission for CO2 sequestration at this stage. The ministry is careful not to do anything that might weaken the dumping prohibition in international law, which Norway once played an important role in establishing.
This does not mean that the ministry does not take the threat of climate change seriously. The ministry agrees that it is important to explore many potential strategies to avoid significant climate change. However, it is important that we do not neglect other important environmental considerations. CO2 sequestration raises environmental issues regarding not only climate change but also protection of the marine environment. With this background, the ministry finds that a broad international discussion on the use of deep marine areas as possible future storage places for CO2 is desirable and necessary. BØRGE BRENDE Minister of the Environment Norway
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JANUARY 1, 2003 / ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ■ 7 A
