Legal challenges of carbon capture and storage in the South China Sea region

Abstract

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is one method to reduce CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. As CCS has the greatest potential for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction, it gains a wide currency in the developed countries. However, the technology for CCS does not spread at the international level especially to the developing countries like South China Sea states. As the CO2 storage period is quite long and potential environmental risks involved, fully deployed CCS projects need not only the technological support but the appropriate legal and regulatory regime to safeguard CCS operations. This article offers a survey of CCS projects in the South China Sea region and discusses the legal challenges associated with CCS activities in state practice.