For Christian Aid, plans to build a new coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth in the UK is deeply irresponsible. For Paul Golby of energy giant E.ON, it's a chance to demonstrate a new low carbon technology. Read their email exchange below and let us know what you think using the link to the right.
Dear Paul,
As you know, climate change poses an unprecedented threat to us all – but especially to poor communities like those that Christian Aid works with. Many of these communities are already experiencing problems due to a changing climate.
Recent publications by the likes of NASA scientist James Hansen point to the scale of global action required to avert catastrophic climate change.
On top of this, Christian Aid believes that industrialised countries like the UK – who are responsible for the lion’s share of greenhouse gases currently in the atmosphere and who have the greatest capability to tackle the problem – must take the lead.
That is why we believe that plans to build a new coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth are deeply irresponsible. In the future, carbon capture and storage technology (CCS) could limit the emissions from coal to such an extent that such stations do not significantly contribute to global warming.
But pressing ahead now, before this technology is proven, commits the UK to another 7 million tonnes of CO2 emitted every year. This is more than the entire annual emissions of many poor countries.
Yours sincerely
Eliot Whittington
Senior policy adviser - climate change, Christian Aid
Eliot,
Firstly, I would like to assure you that E.ON places tackling climate change at the very heart of our business, which is why we are investing billions of pounds to deliver a sustainable energy future for the UK. But a low carbon future must also deliver realistic affordability and secure availability.
We will be closing two coal-fired power stations and an oil-fired station by the end of 2015 – so we will be closing almost three times as much old fossil fuel as we hope to open.
Alongside that, Kingsnorth will be at least 20% more efficient – and so cleaner – than the existing coal-fired plant on the site.
But one thing that is clear is that, whether we build Kingsnorth or not, countries such as India and China will continue to build coal-fired power stations; and for the very reasons that you mention it’s imperative that CCS is proven – and I can see no reason why we shouldn’t do that in the UK and do it at Kingsnorth.
The UK Government is the only government that is committed to demonstrating this technology at scale. By seeking to delay Kingsnorth, you are effectively delaying the opportunity to prove CCS and committing the world to significantly increased carbon emissions.
Yours sincerely
Paul Golby
Chief executive, E.ON UK
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