Is carbon capture and storage technology currently operating on a large enough scale to combat climate change?

According to the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, CCS capacity would have to increase by “more than a hundredfold” to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Boosting CCS can offset the need for more radical changes in human behavior, the institute says.

The technology captures CO2 produced in power generation and industrial processes so that it is not emitted into the atmosphere. There are currently 26 operational facilities and 37 in development. Because of the costs, most are located in wealthier countries like the U.S., China and the U.K. Nearly half are located in the U.S., where they benefit from a tax credit.

In 2016, the International Energy Administration stated that “speeding up carbon capture and storage is needed” to meet the climate goals outlined in the Paris Agreement. Global capacity grew by 33% in 2020.