Cleaner-burning coal technologies are urgently needed to minimise greenhouse gas emissions from the inevitable ongoing use of fossil fuels in the coming decades, Lord Oxburgh of Liverpool, outgoing chairman of Shell, will say in a talk at the Royal Society today (Wednesday 29 June 2005).

Lord Oxburgh will point out that human civilisation has developed rapidly in a climate that has been exceptionally stable over eight thousands years, but one that we are now destabilising with emissions from the use of fossil fuels. He believes that bringing greenhouse gases under control is a massive task and that there is no quick or simple answer, both because the developed world has an enormous infrastructure geared to the availability of cheap fuel and because world population and energy demand are growing rapidly.

Lord Oxburgh will say: “We have to economise, be more efficient and move away from fossil fuels. Renewable energy sources such as wind, wave and solar have a role to play, but will not really come into their own until we have a way of storing their energy. New enzyme technology makes agricultural by-products, such as straw, a cost-effective and low carbon dioxide source of vehicle fuels, opening the way to co-production of fuel and food. Urban waste is another largely untapped energy source.

“It is, however, inevitable that fossil fuels will be widely used for many decades, particularly coal in developing countries. No energy policy is complete that does not take account of this. It is urgent that techniques for burning coal cleanly be matured.”

Lord Oxburgh will say: “Time is pressing and we have to make a start on greenhouse gas control now with the technologies we have today new approaches will undoubtedly emerge and can be fed in as they develop over the next 25 years. Research developments in energy storage, carbon capture and efficient use of energy will be particularly important.”

Original press release: Cleaner-burning coal technologies urgently needed to tackle climate change says Lord Oxburgh (Royal Society)