The 17 Member countries in Melbourne signed a Communique “reaffirming our commitment to the CSLF as a framework for international cooperation in research and development for the capture, transport and storage of carbon dioxide (CO2). “

As part of the landmark signing, 10 international projects on varying forms of carbon capture and storage were unveiled – including Australia’s role in the Frio Project in Texas, in the United States.

Speaking at the conclusion of today’s final session, leading Australian expert, Dr Peter Cook, chief executive of the Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies (CO2CRC), said Australia had done itself proud hosting the second Ministerial meeting of the CSLF.

“The feedback we have received from the 300 delegates who have attended the conference has been exceedingly positive,” he said.

“The outcomes of the Forum emphasise the reality that carbon geo-sequestration - in concert with a suite of other measures – has the potential to make very deep cuts in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions.”

Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) executive director, Barry Jones said: “We have made significant progress towards the goal of establishing the technology of carbon capture and storage as one component of a portfolio of measures directed at facilitating substantial long term cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.

“These 10 approved projects will add significantly to our technical knowledge and they will help with development of policies to manage capture and storage.

“The information gained from the projects and the development of new regulatory processes will be a key component to building community confidence.

United States Energy Association executive drector, Barry Worthington, said: “Substantial progress was made in regard to policy issues, technical issues, and of particular interest to me, the role of stakeholders in the CSLF process,” he said.

“Country delegations have left with a renewed commitment to expedite ordination and co-operation which will ultimately lead to deployment of carbon capture and storage technologies on both an accelerated and more economical basis.”

China’s secretary general of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Shi Dinghuan, said: “The Chinese government attaches great importance to the role of technical progress and innovation in mitigating global climate change,” he said.

“We will work closely with the international community and make our contributions to relevant technology research and development, including that of carbon sequestration technologies.