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Should the price of a litre of petrol include the cost of the carbon clean-up? Tom Heap reveals a radical approach to carbon emissions.

There are already examples around the world where the manufacturer helps to pay for the safe disposal of waste from their goods once used - such as electronic items or bottles. But what about the carbon dioxide produced from fossil fuels?

Tom hears about the 'Carbon Take Back Obligation' concept - in which oil and gas producers would have to capture and store C02 - ratcheting up from 1% of what they produce by 2023, to 10% in 2030 and 100% by 2050. Some say it's impossible to meet the aims of the Paris Climate Agreement without it.

But where would all that carbon dioxide go? How much storage space would we need for it and how much of the cost would trickle down to the petrol pump?

Dr Tamsin Edwards of King's College, London, armed with statistics gathered by the Royal Geographical Society, joins Tom to add up the numbers.

Producer: Anne-Marie Bullock

Researcher: Sarah Goodman

Produced in conjunction with the Royal Geographical Society. Particular thanks for this episode to Professor Stephen Peake of the Open University and Dr Chris Hope of the University of Cambridge.

For more information on the Carbon Take Back Obligation www.carbontakeback.org

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15 minutes

Last on

Sat 14 May 2022 14:45

Broadcasts

  • Wed 21 Apr 2021 13:45
  • Sat 14 May 2022 14:45

Our Planet Now

Our Planet Now

The 大象传媒鈥檚 ongoing focus on the environment and the challenges facing our planet.

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