The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has welcomed yesterday's (Friday) announcement of the cancellation of the Solent CO2 Pipeline Project.
ExxonMobil, the company behind the proposals, confirmed the decision after local residents, environmental groups and campaigners had voiced serious concerns during the public consultation.
The project would have seen the construction of a pipeline to capture and transport carbon dioxide emissions from the Fawley Manufacturing Complex for storage under the seabed in the English Channel – with the three proposed pipeline routes posing a threat to highly protected and designated sites in the New Forest and on the Isle of Wight.
Debbie Tann MBE, CEO of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, said:
“This is great news for the New Forest and Isle of Wight, and huge credit should go to the Trust members, local residents, groups and campaigners who stood up to defend nature in our two counties.
“We had raised major concerns about the lack of critical ecological data in the consultation, which made it impossible to provide valid feedback or to be able to ensure crucial habitats would not be damaged beyond repair.
“We understand that carbon capture technology may be required to decarbonise hard-to-reach sectors, but this must never be used as an excuse to prolong and expand fossil fuel use, and it should never come at the expense of nature.
“While we’re relieved to see the scrapping of the Solent scheme, it’s concerning to see the announcement of major government investment in similar CCS schemes elsewhere, especially when there’s no equivalent investment in restoring nature, which is so urgently needed.
“Healthy ecosystems are not just vital for biodiversity – they are also a key tool in combating the climate crisis.
“The Trust will always remain committed to safeguarding the local environment and ensuring that any future developments do not come at the cost of wildlife and wild places.”
Read more about the Trust’s concerns regarding the ecological impacts of the proposed Solent CO2 pipeline here.
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