Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has long tantalised the world with a promise that, to many, seems an impossible dream: guilt-free energy from oil and coal.
In theory, huge amounts of carbon dioxide - a gas linked with global warming - from power stations, industrial plants, and even eventually fossil-fuel-powered vehicles and the atmosphere itself could be captured.
It could then be piped to permanent storage locations.
Initially, those would be porous, underground rock formations filled with salt water, in which the gas is soluble.
In the long-term, caches of highly saline water in ocean troughs might also be used for storing carbon dioxide.
Opponents of CCS claim it offers a "techno-fix" that would merely postpone the need to supersede fossil fuels with clean, renewable energy.
Its proponents argue just as passionately that without CCS, limiting climate change will be impossible.
"CCS isn't the answer but there is no answer to climate change without CCS," Dr Graeme Sweeney, the chairman of the European Technology Platform for Zero Emission Fossil Fuel Power Plants, said at last week's CCS workshop at the UN climate change summit in Cancun.
"Without CCS, the cost of meeting the climate change threat will be very high and the climate goals impossible to meet," said John Novak, the executive director of the Electric Power Research Institute, based in the US.
Joan MacNaughton, the senior vice president of power and environmental policies at Alstom Power, a unit of the French power and transport group Alstom, said: "The key thing is to create a market for CCS."
CCS was the main issue on which the UAE had hoped for progress at Cancun as Abu Dhabi is seeking to become the world's first government to develop a nation-wide CCS network. The Government plans to build pipelines to transport carbon dioxide from large industrial plants to ageing oilfields, where the gas would be used to flush out more crude before being permanently sealed underground.
An international fiscal, regulatory and policy framework to support the first industrial-scale CCS developments, however, is needed for the UAE and other Gulf oil exporters to contribute meaningfully to international targets for cutting carbon emissions.
Already, OPEC is deeply concerned about deteriorating security of demand for its crude. Its members' involvement in large-scale CCS projects is one of the few options available for assuaging such uncertainty.
tcarlisle@thenational.ae
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8 traditional Jamaican dishes to try at Kingston 21
- Trench Town Rock: Jamaican-style curry goat served in a pastry basket with a carrot and potato garnish
- Rock Steady Jerk Chicken: chicken marinated for 24 hours and slow-cooked on the grill
- Mento Oxtail: flavoured oxtail stewed for five hours with herbs
- Ackee and salt fish: the national dish of Jamaica makes for a hearty breakfast
- Jamaican porridge: another breakfast favourite, can be made with peanut, cornmeal, banana and plantain
- Jamaican beef patty: a pastry with ground beef filling
- Hellshire Pon di Beach: Fresh fish with pickles
- Out of Many: traditional sweet potato pudding
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company profile
Company: Rent Your Wardrobe
Date started: May 2021
Founder: Mamta Arora
Based: Dubai
Sector: Clothes rental subscription
Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded