CO 2 GeoNet, Europe's Network of Excellence working on the geological storage of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), will meet in Venice on 18-20th March 2009 to present highlights from five years of research and development carried out by hundreds of scientists and to interact with stakeholders on future needs to be addressed by science.
CO 2 GeoNet will host an open forum on the island of San Servolo, Venice with an audience of policy-makers, public authorities, industry executives, regulators, NGOs, EC representatives, engineers and scientists attending from across Europe, Australia, Canada, Iran, Japan and the USA. The following key questions will be answered:
DR NICK RILEY MBE, Head of Science Policy, Europe at the British Geological Survey & President of CO 2 GeoNet said: "Europe is leading the world in setting up a regional regulatory framework that will ensure CO 2 capture and storage (CCS) is conducted safely and eligible under the European Emissions Trading Scheme".
SERGIO PERSOGLIA, International Collaborations Director at the Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale, Italy and CO 2 GeoNet Secretary General said: "Geological storage of CO 2 is maturing as a technically feasible option to reduce the emission of CO 2 in the atmosphere thanks to the work of hundreds of European scientists. A wealth of knowledge has been acquired to build the foundations for the efficient and safe deployment of CO 2 capture and storage within and beyond the European Union".
By integrating research from a number of different disciplines, CO 2 GeoNet has particularly contributed to a comprehensive CO 2 storage framework. This will enable policymakers to progress towards CCS implementation. Research and development carried out by CO 2 GeoNet scientists provides the scientific basis to the application of the new European Directive on the Geological Storage of CO 2 .
ISABELLE CZERNICHOWSKI-LAURIOL, project manager at Bureau de Recherches Geologiques et Minieres, France & Network Manager of CO 2 GeoNet said: "The most successful result of this EC-founded Network of Excellence is the transformation of CO 2 GeoNet into a legal entity, a scientific association under French law. CO 2 GeoNet has become the European scientific authority on the geological storage of CO 2 , needed to accelerate the deployment of and build confidence in the full range of CO 2 storage technologies".