Carbon capture is not a climate solution

A statement from the Center for International Environmental Law and numerous supporting organizations urging the United States and Canadian governments to reject carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, arguing they are a 'dangerous distraction' that prolongs fossil fuel reliance and poses significant risks to marginalized communities.

• 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 extends the use of 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 results in more carbon emissions.
• The buildout of CCS infrastructure creates substantial health and safety risks, including the potential for pipeline ruptures leading to human and animal asphyxiation, as well as groundwater contamination and seismic activity from underground storage.
• The document asserts that CCS is inconsistent with environmental justice, as infrastructure is often targeted for placement in marginalized communities already burdened by industrial pollution, specifically mentioning 'Cancer Alley' in Louisiana, the California Central Valley, and parts of Canada.
• The authors claim there is no economic justification for CCS because it makes energy production more expensive and energy-intensive compared to plummeting costs of renewables like wind and solar.
• The statement challenges the scientific basis for 'permanent' carbon storage and the claim that bioenergy with CCS (BECCS) provides negative emissions, stating that burning biomass can increase greenhouse gas impacts for centuries.
• The authors highlight financial mismanagement of CCS subsidies, citing a U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration finding that fossil fuel companies improperly claimed nearly $900 million in 45Q tax credits.

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_US-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_US-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_US-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_US-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }