International Collaboration on Co2 Sequestration

Abstract

An international research consortium was formed in 1997 to observe the behavior of CO 2 when released into the deep ocean. The Kona coast of Hawaii was selected as the project site. A local opposition group forced unacceptably long permitting delays that ultimately forced the project to move out of Hawaii. The consortium selected Norway as the new site. A permit was easily acquired from the national pollution authority in January 2002. A member of Norway's opposition party raised concerns about the experiment in Parliament. The Ministry of Environment responded by reopening the permitting process and requiring public hearings during June. The pollution authority reissued the permit in July ruling the opposition's arguments were not compelling. The Minister of Environment, Børge Brende, revoked the permit in a surprise ruling on August 22 nd 2002.