📋 Group Discussion (GD) Analysis Guide: Should Countries Implement Carbon Sequestration Technology?

🌍 Introduction to Carbon Sequestration Technology

Opening Context: “Amid growing concerns about climate change, carbon sequestration technology has emerged as a promising yet debated tool to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide and mitigate global warming.”

Topic Background: Carbon sequestration involves capturing CO₂ from industrial emissions or directly from the atmosphere and storing it underground or repurposing it. While hailed as a potential solution to meeting climate targets, it poses questions about feasibility, cost, and environmental risks. Recent global commitments to achieving net-zero emissions have amplified discussions on its implementation.

📊 Quick Facts and Key Statistics

• 🌍 Global CO₂ Emissions: ~36.8 billion metric tons (2022) – underlining the scale of the issue.
• 📉 Carbon Capture Capacity: 44 million metric tons annually – highlighting current limitations.
• 💰 Investment Needs: $3 trillion by 2050 for large-scale implementation – reflecting economic challenges.
• 📄 UN IPCC Report (2023): Stresses carbon capture as essential for limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

🤝 Stakeholders and Their Roles

• 🏛️ Governments: Policy-making, subsidies, and international agreements for implementation.
• 🏢 Private Sector: Innovating capture technologies and investing in large-scale infrastructure.
• 🌱 Environmental Groups: Monitoring ecological impacts and advocating for sustainable practices.
• 🌐 Global Bodies (e.g., IPCC): Providing frameworks, research, and collaboration platforms.

🏆 Achievements and Challenges

✨ Achievements

• ⚡ Technology Progress: Direct air capture plants in Iceland store ~4,000 tons of CO₂ annually.
• 📜 Policy Support: U.S. Inflation Reduction Act allocates $369 billion to climate solutions, including carbon capture.
• 🌿 Energy Integration: Enhanced oil recovery using captured CO₂ improves efficiency in oil fields.

⚠️ Challenges

• 💸 High Costs: $50–$100 per ton for capture and storage.
• ⚡ Energy Demand: CO₂ capture processes can consume up to 30% more energy in power plants.
• 🌋 Storage Risks: Leakage or induced seismicity concerns limit public acceptance.

🌏 Global Comparisons

• 🇳🇴 Norway: The Northern Lights project leads in offshore CO₂ storage with significant government backing.
• 🇨🇳 China: Largest emitter piloting carbon capture at coal plants but struggling with scalability.

📚 Case Study

• 🇺🇸 USA – Petra Nova Project: Demonstrated successful CO₂ capture at a coal plant but ceased operations due to economic infeasibility.

🗣️ Structured Arguments for Discussion

• ✅ Supporting Stance: “Carbon sequestration can bridge the gap between current emissions and the eventual shift to renewables, ensuring compliance with climate goals.”
• ❌ Opposing Stance: “The technology’s high cost and unproven scalability make it a distraction from essential renewable energy investments.”
• ⚖️ Balanced Perspective: “While not a panacea, carbon sequestration can complement renewable energy transitions if challenges like cost and safety are addressed.”

🎯 Effective Discussion Approaches

• 📊 Opening Approaches:
• 📈 “With over 36 billion metric tons of CO₂ emitted globally, immediate action is vital, making technologies like carbon sequestration critical.”
• 🔧 “Despite renewables’ growth, achieving net-zero emissions requires interim measures, including carbon sequestration.”
• 🔄 Counter-Argument Handling:
• “Yes, cost is high, but innovations like bioenergy with carbon capture are improving efficiency and reducing expenses.”

🔍 Strategic Analysis of Strengths and Weaknesses

• 💪 Strengths: Reduces industrial emissions; complements renewables.
• 🤔 Weaknesses: Expensive and energy-intensive.
• 🚀 Opportunities: Innovations in storage and capture methods.
• ⚠️ Threats: Public opposition and regulatory hurdles.

🎓 Connecting with B-School Applications

• 🌱 Real-World Applications:
• Link to operations management: designing efficient carbon capture systems.
• Research opportunities in renewable technologies and environmental economics.
• 📝 Sample Interview Questions:
• 💬 “Do you see carbon sequestration as a sustainable solution for climate change mitigation?”
• 💬 “How can businesses incorporate carbon capture into their strategies?”
• 💡 Insights for Students:
• Focus on the intersection of technology and policy for climate solutions.
• Analyze cost-benefit dynamics for strategic implementation.