Legal governance of carbon dioxide transport and storage at sea

This project, led by Olena Bokareva, combines expertise in the fields of international, maritime and environmental law to examine the sequestration, transport and sub-seabed storage of carbon dioxide in the interface between legislation, governance, sustainability and technology.

Climate change poses a significant threat to the resilience of natural and social systems alike. It is thus the most complex and pressing challenge facing humanity. There is broad scientific agreement that anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere are the prime cause of climate change. One of the most important greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide (CO2), which is released when fossil fuels are burnt. To mitigate climate change, it is necessary to reduce CO2 emissions, for example, by substituting fossil fuels. Yet, this process may take several decades. Moreover, there are industries that are categorized as “hard-to-abate” sectors, namely, cement, steel, agriculture and shipping, where abatement measures may face technical challenges or involve costly modifications. 

One promising technology is carbon capture and storage (CCS), a well-established technique for reducing CO2 levels. Despite its promise, CCS deployment has been limited due to legal constraints. First, there is no comprehensive legal regime governing the risk of sub-seabed sequestration. Second, the introduction of this technology will undoubtedly require cross-border sea transport of carbon dioxide, which is also an area that requires further legal development. 

The researchers in the project will address these shortcomings by examining the legal governance of CCS and the transport of CO2 streams by ship. In particular, they will assess the critical interdependence between the UN global sustainable development goals, e.g. Goal 7: affordable and clean energy, Goal 9: industry, innovation and infrastructure, Goal 13: climate action, Goal 14: life below water, and Goal 15: life on land.

From a European and Swedish viewpoint, CCS is a critical component of climate policy 
for the reduction of CO2 emissions from “hard-to-abate” sectors. Sweden has always been a leader in the fields of environmental protection and innovation. The country has set a target of zero net emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere by 2045. Given that Sweden has manufacturing industries that emit large quantities of CO2, such as steel, cement and chemicals, CCS is an essential technological tool. In addition, Nordic cooperation is intended to involve arrangements to facilitate the exportation of CO2 streams by ship. This development requires viable legal options for the management of risks in conjunction with the cross-border transportation of carbon dioxide by sea and storage in the sub-seabed.