International Engagement on CCS
The following information details Australia's key international engagement in relation to Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).
Australia-China Joint Coordination Group on Clean Coal Technology
The Australia-China Joint Coordination Group on Clean Coal Technology (JCG) was established in 2007 to facilitate and enhance the mutually beneficial development, application and transfer of low emissions coal technology. $20 million AUD from the National Low Emissions Coal Initiative (NLECI) has been allocated to support activities under the JCG. Under the JCG, the Department is working closely with China's National Energy Administration to progress a range of low emissions coal projects from bench-scale R&D to industrial-scale carbon capture and storage.
Carbon Capture Use and Storage Action Group
Australia and the United Kingdom established the Carbon Capture Use and Storage (CCUS) Action Group to drive high level momentum on CCS, through the Clean Energy Ministerial initiative (CEM). The Action Group comprises 13 Government and 14 industry members. The Action Group presented a set of recommendations to Ministers at the second CEM meeting in Abu Dhabiin April 2011, targeted at removing the barriers to the deployment of CCS and CCUS technologies.
Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum
Australia is contributing internationally to the development and deployment of CCS by being an active member of the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum
(CSLF). The CSLF is a Ministerial level international climate change initiative that is focused on the development of improved cost-effective technologies for the separation and capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) for its transport and long-term safe storage. The purpose of the CSLF is to make these technologies broadly available internationally, and to identify and address wider issues relating to CCS. This could include promoting the appropriate technical and regulatory environments for the development of such technology.
The CSLF currently has 25 members comprising: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, the European Commission, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Korea, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.
International Energy Agency
The International Energy Agency (IEA) acts as an energy policy advisor for its 28 member countries in their efforts to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for their citizens. The IEA conducts a broad programme of energy research and data compilation and publishes information on energy policies and practices.
The IEA has a significant CCS work program that includes a dedicated CCS team within the IEA, and affiliated programs including the IEA Working Party on Fossil Fuels, the Greenhouse Gas Research and Development Program and the IEA Clean Coal Centre.
International Partnerships
In addition to multilateral action on climate change, Australia is working with bilateral partners to advance the development and deployment of CCS. Australia's key bilateral partners include Canada, China, Japan, Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Australia engages with these partners through technology and R&D partnerships, leadership in multilateral forums, and high level policy dialogue.