Phasing out 'unabated fossil fuels': the importance of defining 'abatement'
Author(s)
Khourdajie, Alaa Al
Bataille, Chris
Bird, Jennifer
Type
Report
Abstract
Key points:
• To achieve our climate goals, total global fossil fuel demand needs to fall substantially, even in a scenario where 'abated' fossil fuels are permitted.
• Fitting Carbon Capture and Storage technology to fossil fuel plants does not automatically mean that carbon dioxide emissions have been 'abated' in line with the Paris Agreement goals. Without a formally agreed definition of what is meant by 'abatement', there is a risk that these goals will be compromised.
• To be Paris Agreement compatible, abated fossil fuels need to be net-zero greenhouse gas emissions on a lifecycle basis. This requires four things:
1. Carbon dioxide capture rates of more than or equal to 90% of carbon dioxide emitted
2. Permanent storage of captured emissions
3. Reducing upstream and end-use fugitive methane emissions to less than 0.5% and towards 0.2% of gas production (and an equivalent for coal); and
4. Offsetting any remaining emissions through permanent carbon dioxide removal (CDR)
• To achieve our climate goals, total global fossil fuel demand needs to fall substantially, even in a scenario where 'abated' fossil fuels are permitted.
• Fitting Carbon Capture and Storage technology to fossil fuel plants does not automatically mean that carbon dioxide emissions have been 'abated' in line with the Paris Agreement goals. Without a formally agreed definition of what is meant by 'abatement', there is a risk that these goals will be compromised.
• To be Paris Agreement compatible, abated fossil fuels need to be net-zero greenhouse gas emissions on a lifecycle basis. This requires four things:
1. Carbon dioxide capture rates of more than or equal to 90% of carbon dioxide emitted
2. Permanent storage of captured emissions
3. Reducing upstream and end-use fugitive methane emissions to less than 0.5% and towards 0.2% of gas production (and an equivalent for coal); and
4. Offsetting any remaining emissions through permanent carbon dioxide removal (CDR)
Date Issued
2024-10-14
Citation
Grantham Institute background briefing, 2024, pp.1-6
Publisher
Imperial Grantham Institute
Start Page
1
End Page
6
Journal / Book Title
Grantham Institute background briefing
Copyright Statement
© 2024 The authors, produced for The Grantham Institute. This work is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-No-Derivatives 4.0 International License. This license permits all or part of the work to be copied and shared with others, provided that the original authors and source are credited.
Publication Status
Published