VCE Environmental Science

Natasha’s Quiz here.

Kara’s Quiz here.

Carly’s Quiz here.

Jamie’s Quiz here.

Thomas’s Quiz here.

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The concept of engineering systems to deliberately capture and store carbon dioxide has evolved in the past twenty years from a relatively obscure idea to an increasingly recognized set of potential mitigation options. A  large carbon capture and storage demonstration project began in south-western Victoria in 2007. The CO2CRC Otway Project aims to inject and store about 100,000 tonnes of CO2 deep underground and carefully monitor the process for safety and security. The project will provide technical information on geo-sequestration processes, technologies and verification regimes that will help inform public policy and industry decision-makers. This technology is unlikely to be used widely until regulations on carbon emissions are instituted, so that reducing carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere provides an economic benefit that will offset the cost of implementing the technology. Studies on the risks associated with injecting CO2 underground have found minimal concerns – IPCC research has shown that, at a carefully chosen stable geological site, less than 1% of the stored carbon dioxide will leak into the next rock strata – still deep underground. However, widespread adoption of carbon capture and storage technology could also be limited by public acceptance due to the novelty of the concept as well as by uncertainties resulting from the lack of demonstrated full-scale integration of the technology.
NOVA Science in the news – “Carbon currency the credits and debits of carbon emissions trading”
ABC News in Science: “Carbon sink research precedes world meet”

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Professor Ross Garnaut has warned that the Great Barrier Reef, Kakadu’s wetland system and the Murray-Darling Basin are all at risk from the warmer, drier temperatures and rising sea-levels caused by climate change. Professor Garnaut released his draft review of the social and economic effects of a carbon emissions scheme yesterday. “The risk can be substantially reduced by strong and early action by all major ecomonies”, he said in a speech to the National Press Club.

On the same day, Origin Energy has finally committed to building a $640 million gas-fired power plant at Mortlake. The 1,000 MW facility will be built in stages and, when completed, will produce enough electricity to power up to 1.5 million homes. Energy and Resources Minister, Peter Batchelor, claims that the gas-fired plant will emit 70% less greenhouse gases than a brown coal fired plant.