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The briefing examines the role of carbon capture and storage (CCS), noting that the majority of the world's 41 operational projects are linked to the oil and gas industry, specifically for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). It highlights a history of 'unmet expectations' and slow deployment, with capture rates often falling short of targets. While CCS is proposed for hard-to-abate sectors like cement and steel, the document argues it is often less cost-effective than electrification or energy efficiency. It further details how CCS projects in Norway, Canada, and Australia have been used to maintain the financial viability of fossil fuel extraction.

The report provides a detailed market assessment of the refining industry in four key regions, analyzing the transition from traditional crude-based products to low-carbon alternatives like SAF, green ammonia, and e-methanol, while evaluating the impact of regional climate policies.

The guide outlines how to detect greenwashing by analyzing emissions data, target setting, and the use of controversial technologies. It emphasizes the importance of absolute emissions over intensity targets and warns against the over-reliance on carbon offsets, natural gas, and unproven carbon removal technologies.

The EU Industrial Carbon Management Strategy aims to scale up CO2 capture, utilisation, and storage to meet 2040 climate targets, specifically targeting an annual injection capacity of at least 250 million tonnes in the European Economic Area by 2040. To achieve this, the Commission plans to address current imbalances in storage—which is currently concentrated in the North Sea—by establishing transparent permitting processes by 2025 and creating an investment atlas of potential storage sites. The strategy also envisions a vast transport network, potentially reaching 19,000 km by 2040, and proposes a regulatory package for CO2 transport and a demand aggregation platform by 2026. Financial mechanisms discussed include the Innovation Fund, Connecting Europe Facility, and a possible Important Project of Common European Interest for transport and storage. Additionally, the strategy emphasizes industrial carbon removals (such as BECCS and DACCS) to help reach a target of removing 400 million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2040.

The document analyzes the implementation of CCfDs in Europe, specifically comparing the Dutch SDE++, the UK's Industrial Carbon Capture (ICC) contract, and the Danish CCUS Fund. It details how these mechanisms bridge the cost gap between the EU ETS carbon price and the actual cost of carbon abatement for hard-to-abate sectors like cement, steel, and chemicals. The analysis covers critical design elements including fund sizes, technology eligibility, reference and bid pricing, payment symmetry, and the management of cross-chain risks related to transport and storage (T&S) infrastructure.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) argues that carbon capture and storage (CCS) is indispensable for Austria to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, particularly for hard-to-abate sectors like cement, lime, and steel. The document recommends that Austria set specific deployment targets, remove legal barriers to geological CO2 storage, and develop a strategic plan for operationalising storage sites by 2035. To address the 'chicken and egg' problem of infrastructure investment, CATF suggests 'oversizing' transport networks and establishing an aggregation platform to match CO2 sources with sinks. Financially, the document proposes the use of carbon contracts for difference (CCfDs) to bridge the gap between EU ETS prices and decarbonisation costs, while advocating for long-term market demand through near-zero carbon product standards. Finally, it emphasizes the need for proactive public engagement and inclusive stakeholder dialogues to build political and social support for CCS.

The document outlines the importance of monitoring water retention projects in the Prairies to ensure they meet specifications and to track long-term performance. It emphasizes that monitoring water quantity and quality helps optimize sites for climate adaptation and multiple benefits, including flood mitigation, drought resilience, water quality, biodiversity, and carbon storage. The guide aims to demystify the technical requirements of monitoring by reviewing equipment and analysis methods based on IISD's experience.

The document advocates for a radical shift in banking practices to support the energy transition, specifically calling for a 6:1 investment ratio in favor of sustainable power supply over fossil fuels. Based on IEA Net Zero Emissions (NZE) projections, the author argues that total annual energy sector investments must rise to US$4.7 trillion by 2030, with energy transition investments exceeding US$4.2 trillion. Reclaim Finance emphasizes that this ratio should specifically target sustainable technologies—solar PV, wind, grids, and storage—while excluding biomass, nuclear energy, and Carbon Capture Use and Storage (CCUS), which it deems too risky or damaging. The document concludes that banks should set specific targets for sustainable power, end all support for fossil fuel expansion, and incorporate the 6:1 ratio into credible climate transition plans.

The document argues that limiting global warming to 1.5°C requires a radical shift in financial flows, moving away from fossil fuel expansion toward sustainable energy. Based on IEA data, it proposes a 6:1 ratio for banks: investing six times more in sustainable electricity supply than in fossil fuels by 2030. It specifies that 'sustainable' energy should focus on mature technologies like solar, wind, grids, and storage, while excluding nuclear, biomass, and carbon capture (CCUS).

The document argues that carbon capture and storage (CCS) is essential for Europe to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, particularly for hard-to-abate industrial sectors like cement and steel. It details the technical processes of capture and geological storage, asserts that leakage risks are extremely low, and outlines current project developments in the North Sea region and across the EU. The text also addresses the economic viability of CCS, noting that while costs vary by industry, the technology is often the lowest-cost path for specific industrial decarbonisation and carbon dioxide removal (CDR).

The document argues that large-scale deployment of CCS is essential for Europe to reach climate neutrality by 2050, yet current draft NECPs show significant gaps in targets and planning. It provides a framework for Member States to assess storage capacity, map projects, engage stakeholders, and establish financing and regional cooperation for CO2 transport and storage networks.

The document argues that clean hydrogen should be treated as a 'precious molecule' and prioritised for 'no regrets' hard-to-abate industrial sectors rather than being deployed indiscriminately. It recommends that EU Member States move beyond a sole focus on renewable ('green') hydrogen to include other low-carbon pathways, such as nuclear ('pink') and natural gas with carbon capture ('blue'), to avoid resource constraints. The guide emphasises locating production close to end-users to minimise transport inefficiencies and suggests that hydrogen in transport be limited to heavy-duty trucking, aviation, and shipping, while light-duty vehicles should prioritise electrification. Finally, it advises leveraging EU and national support mechanisms to fund 'champion' projects across the entire value chain.

Russia's steel industry remains dominated by emissions-intensive coal-based blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) technology, which accounts for 60.9% of its 88,400 ttpa operating capacity. Despite pressures from the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and corporate sustainability reporting rules in the EU and US, Russian companies are refurbishing old blast furnaces and planning new ones rather than transitioning to low-emissions electric arc furnace (EAF) or hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (DRI) production. While Russia aims to produce 550 thousand tonnes of hydrogen per annum, it lacks domestic demand and faces challenges in DRI-EAF deployment due to the exit of key Western suppliers like Midrex, Danieli, and Primetals. The report suggests that redirecting investments from blast furnace relinings to hydrogen-based DRI could stimulate the domestic hydrogen market and align Russian steel with global decarbonization standards.

The document outlines a framework for monitoring water retention projects in the Prairies, emphasizing the need for water and contaminant mass balances to evaluate performance. It details a range of monitoring tools—from low-cost metre sticks to expensive automated samplers—and explains how to use rating curves to estimate discharge. The guide highlights the importance of high-frequency data to capture rapid hydrologic events and suggests using monitoring data to develop hydraulic and water-quality treatment models for improving future site design and management.

The report concludes that the EU's demand for fossil gas and oil is in a long-term structural decline, making new production projects—especially in the Arctic—unnecessary and incompatible with 1.5°C warming limits. Analysis shows that existing production and current contracts will likely exceed EU demand by the 2030s in net-zero aligned scenarios, creating a risk of oversupply and stranded assets.

The report examines the integration of community benefits into the US DOE's Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program, emphasizing the shift from one-way notification to meaningful two-way engagement. It highlights the role of Community Benefits Plans (CBPs) and Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) in mitigating social opposition and ensuring that 40% of benefits flow to disadvantaged communities under the Justice40 Initiative. Through case studies of failed projects in Wisconsin and the Midwest, the document illustrates how a lack of transparency, misalignment with local visions, and insufficient engagement can lead to project cancellation or significant delays.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) advocates for the EPA to promptly finalize comprehensive emissions standards for coal and both new and existing gas power plants. CATF argues that these regulations are compatible with electric grid reliability due to built-in flexibilities and compliance timelines. The organization emphasizes that timely action is necessary to align with federal investments from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and to help the U.S. meet its Nationally Determined Contribution of a 50 to 52% reduction in carbon pollution below 2005 levels by 2030.

The document outlines a 36-month readiness project implemented by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) to address technical and institutional gaps in GHG management for Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. Suriname's focus is on institutionalising national carbon monitoring and reporting frameworks, including upgrading the Dondru database and supporting Direct Access Entity (DAE) accreditation. Trinidad and Tobago's focus is on enhancing capacity for carbon capture and storage (CCS), developing a national carbon dioxide storage atlas, and preparing for international carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. The project also includes integrated studies on blue carbon sequestration in mangrove forests for both nations.

The marine shipping industry, responsible for about 3% of global GHG emissions, is under pressure to decarbonize following new targets from the EU and the IMO. The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) highlights that dual-fuel engines, which can run on conventional fuel as well as alternatives like methanol and ammonia, are becoming a standard design to provide flexibility over a ship's 30-plus-year lifespan. CATF's analysis indicates that ammonia-fueled ships could nearly fully decarbonize at a lower lifetime fuel cost than heavy fuel oil if carbon pricing is in place. To achieve these goals, the document recommends a clean marine fuel standard that mandates minimal upstream emissions, ensures safe bunkering, requires on-board pollution controls for gases like nitrous oxide, and uses economic incentives like a low carbon fuel standard to manage the higher costs of zero-emission fuels.

The report argues that CCS is essential for the EU to reach climate neutrality by 2050, noting that current deployment rates are far below required levels and that no operational CO2 storage sites currently exist within the EU. It recommends setting clear deployment targets for CCS, DACCS, and BECCS, and establishing a strategic plan to distribute storage basins across the region by 2035 to avoid over-reliance on the North Sea. To address financial barriers, the author suggests coordinating funding, using carbon contracts for difference (CfDs), and creating a dedicated tender for capture capacity. The report also emphasizes the need for a common regulatory framework for cross-border CO2 transport, the creation of an aggregation platform to match CO2 sources with sinks, and the development of market demand for near-zero carbon products. Finally, it advocates for the prioritization of permanent industrial carbon removals (DACCS and BECCS) and their gradual integration into compliance markets like the EU ETS, provided robust standards and monitoring are in place.