In a ceremonious sense, the marking of a new year thankfully lets us put certain things to rest and look ahead to a fresh start. At the same time, a majority of the previous year’s challenges are still at hand — if not intensified. The latter is certainly true for the chemical process industries (CPI) in a broad sense and is especially the case this year in the context of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change.
On a policy level, several key developments promise to shape the coming year. Last month, 187 countries, including six heads of state, met at the Thirteenth Conference of the Parties in Bali to launch negotiations toward a new climate-change prevention deal, which would follow the expiration of the first phase of the Kyoto Protocol in 2013. The outcome defines an agenda for the following key issues to be negotiated up to 2009: action for adapting to the negative consequences of climate change, such as droughts and floods; ways to reduce GHG emissions; ways to widely deploy climate friendly technologies; and financing both adaptation and mitigation measures. Parties for the first time considered the possible inclusion of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in geological formations for clean-development-mechanism (CDM) qualification (a way for developed nations to achieve emission reduction credits through investment in developing countries).
During the Bali conference, Australia’s recently elected Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, completed ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, leaving the U.S. as the only developed nation in rejection of it. Rudd’s predecessor, John Howard, stood ground with U.S. President Bush, on the basis that the treaty unfairly penalizes developed countries by making no demands of fast-growing emerging economies such as China. According to the White House press secretary, the U.S. joins the Bali consensus decision, but still has concerns that more weight should be given to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.
Even if matters like these keep the world’s largest emitter from ultimately ratifying Kyoto’s successor, there is growing evidence that, within the CPI at least, companies are reducing GHGs with and without legal mandates. For instance, in response to a U.S. Senate Committee cap-and-trade bill that will come before a full Senate vote this year, the American Chemistry Council (Arlington, Va.; www.americanchemistry.com) points out that its members have reduced absolute GHG emissions by 12.5% and improved energy efficiency by nearly 27% since 1990, exceeding even what the Kyoto Protocol would have required.
And as the following examples illustrate, GHG reduction initiatives continue to mount on a company level. Bayer AG (Leverkusen, Germany; www.bayer.com) has launched an integrated, group-wide "Bayer Climate Program" to further reduce CO 2 emissions from its production facilities and develop new solutions for mitigation. The program includes a €1-billion investment in climate-related research and development and other projects over the next three years. Between 1990 and 2006, Bayer says it reduced GHG emissions by 36%.
Last month at the U.S. EPA’s Climate Leaders conference in Boulder Colo., Roche Group U.S. Affiliates (Basel, Switzerland; www.rochemengonline.com) pledged to reduce its total U.S. GHG emissions by 15% from 2001 to 2010. Roche achieved its initial goal by reducing its emissions by 11% from 2001 to 2006.
To support its goal to reduce GHGs by more than 20% by 2015, The Dow Chemical Co. (Midland, Mich.; www.dow.com) has announced plans to use a steam process that captures CO 2 emissions to be sold for enhanced oil-recovery use (also see p. 12). Meanwhile, Monsanto (St. Louis, Mo.; www.monsanto.com) has joined the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), the only legally binding emissions trading program in the U.S. for GHGs. Plans include a 6% reduction (or trade) in U.S. carbon emissions from 2000 levels.
Rebekkah Marshall