Emissions allowances are trading at less than 10% of energy costs. All companies can make low cost savings or get govenrment grants and tax breaks for energy efficiency of 20 to 30%. This means oil companies could make money on reducing emissions, so why complain? Perhaps they are really concerned about the loss of sales if everyone reduced their energy usage by 20-30%.

If we want equity in emissions reduction by the EU and to prevent export of jobs, we may have to put an import tax on goods based on their carbon content.

Esco, Edinburgh, UK

Whoever dreamed up the whole idea of "carbon trading" is obviously a public employee somewhere with nothing better to do than impose additional taxation on the consumer.
Whatever name or excuse is given, all and every form of taxation (call it surcharge, penalty or green or whatever) will end up out of the pockets of the working taxpayer.
Eventually the European people and economies will become so financially and commercially distorted that we will become a rather worthless third world economy.
Any and every tax raised in such causes must be completely counterbalanced by equivalent tax reductions to reach across the same payee group within the economy.

Chris Goodman, Fareham, England

"Assuming we have a 5 metre rise by 2100, think about how that may evolve over the coming decades. "

Lovely word "assuming",useful for hypothetical arguments.Of course,none of the refinery companies will notice the rising sea level during the 92 years to 2100.
What about innovation? Look at the things that didn't even exist 92 years ago.Stop this hysterical Chicken Little "The sky is falling we are all going to die" nonsense.
Businesses will evolve,but if they are driven out of Europe,Europe will remain a poor backwater this century.

Peter, Manchester, England

It does not matter if a refinery is in Europe or newly-built in the Far East. The ice sheets are disintegrating and sea level rise will impact refineries (which are mostly on the coast). Assuming we have a 5 metre rise by 2100, think about how that may evolve over the coming decades. Check out locations of existing and new build refineries using Google Earth. Think about how supply chains - whether European or Far Eastern may be affected. Think about capex and operational integrities of these expesnive systems. The oil industry, whichever components of it are considered, must address the climate change problem that it is contributing to. Arguments about marginal business are pure whinge. The argument goes directly to innovation, and specifically low-carbon innovation. The oil industry should not be frightened by innovation. Its leaders should transform it to be a successful part of the low-economy global economy.

Michael, Halesworth, UK

Winstonian you have hit the nail on the head there, the religion of climate change.

But dont blame it on science, its all about politicians bending the truth. I firmly believe there are plenty of scientists more than sceptical about the claimedd climate change, like you and me.

Paul, Andover,

While greens collars politicians are asking EU Oil an Chemicals Cos to reduce CO2 emissions by 20%, China is starting a new coal plant to produce energy per day.
EU will loose jobs for what ? Are we crazy, on that side of this small planet ?

Michel Jutharat, Marseille, France

Michael from Halesworth, listen to what he's saying- the petchem industry in Europe is more efficient than elsewhere, if you penalise them financially like this then it will drive down their competitive edge and the industry will be outsourced to the middle east and fareast where it is likely the plants will not be more energy efficient. So for no net reductions in global emissions you drive away well established energy efficient business, and engender job losses in europe, which has a knock on effect to everyone in the UK and should concern you.
this is nothing to do with whingeing, this is reasoned argument against an admirable idea which may have unforeseen/unplanned and negative consequences.

Tim, singapore,

The general public does not see what is happening in petrochemical - because the media doesn't report it. Bulk manufacturing is moving to the middle east. Massive projects are underway out there right now - the chemical industry will go the way of the shipping industry unless someone wakes up fast.

Man in a Shed, Woking, England

The whole concept of a carbon trading scheme is crazy . It is an invitation to fraud on an unprecedented scale which will make the CAP and inter country VAT scams look trivial .
What happened to free trade concepts , all this carbon scheme will acheive is millions of bureaucrats & legal argument , not one iota of benefit to Europe.

rob ackman, lancaster, uk

The religion of 'climate change', the pomposity of politicians, and divination of scientists will cause the total downfall of western society. Scientists have become the new prophets, their scientific studies have consistently proved to be flawed - yet politicians use their flawed 'evidence' without question to force their policies on the people, who deferentially follow like sheep. The case for climate change has not been proven beyond doubt, but self serving politicians, suffering from delusions of grandeur, and to justify their existence, force policies through that will damage our industry base probably beyond repair, based on that flawed evidence.
China, India et al seem to be far far wiser and will take full advantage of western vanity. We will surely become the poor relation to the world if we continue to self-harm as we are doing today. Self important politicians and flawed science have too much power; they have overgrown the proverbial garden: - prune both aggressively -now!

winstonian, Darlington, UK

Remember Y2k. I do. I spent three years of my life fixing the problems.

I wish companies had the same approach with climate change.

JC, London, UK

It is a shame that one of the leaders of the most powerful and influential companies on earth is unwilling to give a rallying call to low-carbon innovation. The refineries are under threat from climate change: eg sea level rises (eg 5 metre rise by 2100) could submerge oil production facilities in the coming decades and increasingly extreme weather conditions (hurricanes etc) could jeopardise safe operations of industrial plant, causing intermittent choke within supply chains etc.

The world needs business and industrial leaders to show leadership. Whinging that the emergence of a low-carbon economy will threaten an industrial sector and stimulate it to innovate, innovate and innovate and embrace and deliver change to safeguard the planet is pathetic. Now is the opportunity for Europe to gain a low-carbon competitive edge, not throw it away to whinge. Show some leadership.

Michael, Halesworth, UK

The world needs oil, its cheap and no real practicle alternative is available just yet. Even at US$100 / $150 / $200 a barrel oil is still cheap and more enviromentaly friendly than the current alternatives when the whole production and use cost is calculated.

Look at the real problems the increase in grain price is causing to the words 3rd world due to the rush for Bio fuel? Bread doubling in price? people are going to starve to death because the enviromental policies are not being thought through, while rich investors make a lot of money out of subsidies and the green bandwagon.

Remember Y2K? The green loby is being run along the same lines. All poilceys need to be co-ordianted world wide and not just in Europe. With out a global agreement and consensus we are not going to acheive anything.


The issues raised by the Shell Boss are very valid points. Shifting the business out of europe will mean lower emmision requirements wherever they relocate to.

James G, Shanghai,