We clearly stress that ACP's activities do not cause any additional CO₂ emissions. On the contrary, our activities contribute to a reduction in emissions.

How is that?

• In order to produce CO₂, ACP recovers gas flows that are emitted by the production of ammonia. In other words, ACP makes sure the CO₂ molecule has an additional function as a CO₂ application before it is released into the atmosphere.
• In some of its applications, CO₂ is fixated and thus not released into the atmosphere. Examples of this are the use of CO₂ in treating water (during which CO₂ is transformed into bicarbonate); to enrich greenhouse atmospheres (where it is transformed into organic material), and as a starting material in chemical products (methionin, PCC = Precipitated Calcium Carbonate, etc.)

Obviously this statement does not apply to various other CO₂ producers who, for example, use "natural underground CO₂ sources" or CO₂ generated by the combustion of fossil fuels.

CO₂ and greenhouse gas

The gas atmosphere that surrounds the earth forms a protective layer for our planet. Certain gases in that atmosphere make the earth's temperature suitable for animal life. These gases absorb infrared radiation emitted by the earth and reflect it back to it. This way they prevent solar energy from being lost too quickly into the atmosphere and bring about a temperature rise on earth. Next to methane and ozone, CO₂ is the most important gas of these so-called greenhouse gases.
The main sources of CO₂ are of natural origin: respiration of fauna and flora, biodegradation of organic material, volcanic activity, etc.
Approximately 7% of all CO₂ emissions result from human activities in the transport industry or energy generation sector. This additional and still increasing contribution to CO₂ emissions increases the CO₂ content in the atmosphere (currently +/- 0.038%), and thereby also the greenhouse effect. Consequently, the average temperature on earth is on the rise.
The actual consequences for our climate have not yet been determined scientifically, but the industrialized countries have agreed on several measures to reduce the CO₂ emissions resulting from human activities.

The Montreal and Kyoto agreements stipulate that the industrialized countries are to reduce their CO₂ emissions to 8% below their 1990 emission level, in the period from 2008 to 2012.
In Belgium for example, this would mean that the net decrease has to be 14% with respect to the 2001 level, as the CO₂ emission level has increased by 7% since 1990.

ACP does not take any position in political agreements concerning this matter, such as energy taxes, CO₂ taxes, etc.