To help advance carbon capture and storage (CCS) in Asia Pacific, the Global CCS Institute has introduced a CCS Fellowship Programme and selected its first Fellowship appointee, Dr Meredith Gibbs.

Gibbs is a prominent Australian environmental and climate change lawyer and a partner at HWL Ebsworth Lawyers in Melbourne.

Gibbs commented: “I am delighted and honoured to have been awarded the first Legal Fellowship with the Global CCS Institute.”

She said the Fellowship provided an opportunity to contribute to the global body of knowledge about the kind of legal frameworks that will foster and promote CCS as part of a low-carbon future.

“My research will identify the key features of an effective enforcement regime for the underground storage of carbon dioxide,” explained Gibbs. “This issue is important because the perception of an effective enforcement regime that ensures the permanent and safe storage of carbon dioxide will be crucial in increasing public and industry confidence in CCS as an important technology for a low-carbon future.”

According to Institute CEO, Brad Page, the CCS Fellowship Programme will be a valuable addition to the global research effort in key policy and legal areas.

“Pursuing the climate targets set in Paris will require a substantial shift in the way governments and businesses seek to decarbonise the world economy,” explained Page. “CCS is a vital technology for meeting the world’s targets for mitigating global warming at least cost – the very objective is simply impossible without CCS.”

“As a global organisation the Institute recognises that governments the world over need access to detailed, expert research and knowledge, especially in policy, legal and regulatory areas … The CCS Fellowship Programme is one part of the Institute’s commitment to developing greater knowledge in critical areas of study, to assist our Members, governments and corporations in making informed decisions about their own commitments to CCS.”

“As our Legal and Regulatory Indicator highlights, much more work needs to be done to ensure efficient legislation is in place to facilitate CCS deployment,” continued Page.

He concluded: “we are delighted to appoint Dr Gibbs as the Institute’s inaugural Legal Fellow, and we look forward to welcoming her extensive contribution to this important area of our work.”

Edited from press release by Harleigh Hobbs