Ospar states agrees carbon-storage law change

Parties to the Ospar convention for the protection of the north-east Atlantic ocean have agreed changes to the treaty that will legalise the capture and undersea geological storage of carbon dioxide (CCS).

Amendments adopted last week also set out guidelines for CCS risk assessment and a ban on the placement of CO2 directly into water or on the sea bed. Ospar chairman Bob Dekker said the move was a "template for other marine regions worldwide". Several EU member states and green group WWF welcomed the changes.

See releases from Ospar http://www.ospar.org/eng/doc/Press%20Statement%202007%20real.doc, Germany http://www.bmu.de/english/current_press_releases/pm/39604.php and WWF http://www.wwf.org.uk/news/n_0000004130.asp.