Legal Implications Of Carbon Capture And Storage In International Climate Agreements
- IJLLR Journal
- Mar 4
- 1 min read
Ishant Warde, Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur
ABSTRACT
Picture a world racing toward net-zero emissions, yet stalled by buried CO2 pipelines crossing borders without legal maps—this is the regulatory chaos of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in international climate pacts. This paper explores legal implications of CCS under UNFCCC, Paris Agreement, and London Protocol, addressing a unified problem: regulatory gaps in transboundary projects, perpetual post-storage liability voids, and treaty clashes that hinder scaled deployment for 1.5°C goals. CCS emerged in the 1970s amid oil recovery, evolving from niche tech to Paris-recognized mitigation via Article 6 carbon markets and NDCs balancing emissions/removals. Evolution traces IPCC AR4 endorsements, London Protocol 2009 amendments permitting sub-seabed storage, and EU ETS integrations. Current status: 45+ facilities operational (2025 Global CCS Report), but transboundary hurdles persist—bilateral deals needed sans global standards. Objectives analyze emergence, gaps, and reforms; questions probe harmonization viability. Bridging these ensures CCS viability, preventing leakage risks and equity failures in Global South. Through doctrinal review of OSPAR/London amendments, Paris Rulebook Article 6.4, the study proposes unified MRV protocols, liability funds akin to nuclear treaties, and treaty amendments. Findings urge COP30 (2025) action for CCS-inclusive ITMOs, averting greenwashing while unlocking trillions in investments. Essential for environmental lawyers navigating NDCs, this work demystifies CCS law, fostering equitable decarbonization.
Keywords: CCS, Paris Agreement, Transboundary Liability, London Protocol.
