David Sheppard: SEAL Award Winner 2021

A selection of this year’s best environmental journalism

Boris Johnson warns EU to choose between Ukraine and Nord Stream 2

“Ukrainian officials also fear the alternative gas route to western Europe could make it easier for Russia to invade the country, where it has supported proxy fighters in the eastern Donbass region since 2014, the same year it annexed Crimea from the country.”
Source: Financial Times (Approx. 4 minutes)

How does Europe get its gas?

“Following the break-up of the Soviet Union, most Russian gas exports to Europe flowed through existing pipeline infrastructure in Ukraine… Russia’s long-running tensions with Ukraine escalated in 2014, when Moscow annexed the Crimean peninsula. Russia has continued to build pipelines that bypass the country — a move Kyiv and many of its allies believe is intended to weaken Ukraine by depriving it of gas transit revenues. It has also served to increase Europe’s reliance on Russia.”
Source: Financial Times (Approx. 6 minutes)

US shale drillers cannot contain oil price rise, Pioneer boss says

“The expanded Opec+ alliance, which also includes allies such as Russia, will meet on Monday to decide whether to maintain output targets. The group last year agreed deep production cuts to restore crude prices that plunged as pandemic lockdowns hit energy consumption. But supplies are now short of demand as economies recover, with global crude stockpiles shrinking at a record pace, according to Goldman Sachs.”
Source: Financial Times (Approx. 4 minutes)

UK selects two carbon capture schemes for fast track

“The technology involves the capture of CO2 from industrial processes, power generation and the production of so-called low-carbon hydrogen and then either reusing it or permanently storing it deep underground so it cannot re-enter the atmosphere. Carbon capture is viewed as crucial by organisations including the Climate Change Committee to achieving the UK’s 2050 net zero emissions target. But environmental groups warn not all CO2 is captured in the process and fear it will merely prolong the use of fossil fuels.”
Source: Financial Times (Approx. 3 minutes)

Monster problem: Australia’s $54-billion Gorgon LNG project is a test case for carbon capture

“Chevron, which runs Gorgon with ExxonMobil Corp., Royal Dutch Shell Plc. and a string of Japanese groups that are the plant’s main customers, admitted this month it had failed to meet Canberra’s requirements to lock away 80 per cent of emissions generated within its first five years of operation.”
Source: Financial Post (Approx. 7 minutes)

Read the SEAL Awards 2021 Environmental Journalism Award Announcement