Carbon capture is not a climate solution

A coalition of international organizations argues that carbon capture and storage (CCS) is an ineffective and dangerous 'distraction' that prolongs fossil fuel dependence, poses significant safety risks to marginalized communities, and lacks economic viability. The authors urge the Canadian and U.S. governments to end subsidies for CCS and enhanced oil recovery (EOR), instead investing in renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure.

• The authors argue that carbon capture and storage (CCS) is not a viable climate solution because it fails to stop the primary drivers of the climate crisis—fossil fuel production and consumption—and instead prolongs the world's reliance on these fuels.
• A significant portion of captured carbon is used for "enhanced oil recovery" (EOR), a process where CO2 is injected into depleted reservoirs to increase oil production, which the authors claim is "disastrous for the climate" as it leads to more extraction and emissions.
• The deployment of CCS infrastructure poses severe health, safety, and environmental risks, including the potential for pipeline ruptures causing human and animal asphyxiation, drinking water contamination, and the stimulation of seismic activity.
• The document asserts that CCS targets marginalized communities, specifically Black, Brown, and Indigenous populations already burdened by industrial pollution, and is therefore inconsistent with environmental justice principles.
• The authors claim there is no economic rationale for CCS because it makes energy production more expensive and energy-intensive, especially as the costs of renewable energy like wind and solar continue to drop.
• The statement argues that CCS is ineffective at reducing emissions, noting that projects have "overpromised and under-delivered" and that claims regarding bioenergy with CCS (BECCS) as a negative emissions technology are based on a "discredited premise" that burning biomass is carbon neutral.
• The authors challenge the notion of "permanent" carbon storage, noting that U.S. federal regulations only require storage for 50 years to qualify for subsidies, while CO2 persists in the environment for hundreds or thousands of years.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2021). Carbon capture is not a climate solution. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/CCS-Letter_FINAL_CAN-1.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Carbon capture is not a climate solution. 2021. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/CCS-Letter_FINAL_CAN-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Carbon capture is not a climate solution |date=19 July 2021 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/CCS-Letter_FINAL_CAN-1.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2021carbon, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Carbon capture is not a climate solution}}, publisher = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2021}, month = jul, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/CCS-Letter_FINAL_CAN-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }