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The briefing outlines how the SCALE Act would drive the deployment of CO₂ infrastructure in the U.S. through cost-sharing for storage hubs, increased EPA permitting funding, and the creation of the CO₂ Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (CIFIA) for low-interest loans. It argues that shared 'hubs' are essential for decarbonizing emissions-intensive industries like steel and cement and for scaling Direct Air Capture. The author highlights a 'chicken-and-egg challenge' where capture projects cannot proceed without infrastructure, and infrastructure cannot be funded without committed capture projects. While other nations like Canada, Norway, and the UK have implemented significant funding for such networks, the U.S. currently lacks an equivalent policy, risking a loss of competitiveness despite the existence of the Section 45Q tax credit.

The document emphasizes that because CO2 is cumulative, delays in emission cuts lead to higher peak temperatures and greater ecological damage. It warns that overshooting the 1.5°C target and relying on underdeveloped negative emissions technologies (NETs) poses significant risks to marine ecosystems and biodiversity. The author advocates for transparent, comprehensive greenhouse gas mitigation plans and a 'green recovery' from COVID-19, noting that the economic and public health benefits of rapid decarbonization far outweigh the costs.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) welcomes the final IRS guidance on the 45Q tax credit, stating it provides necessary certainty for developers of carbon capture, removal, and storage projects. While CATF supports the IRS's decision to limit credits to captured and utilized carbon oxide rather than CO2 equivalence lifecycle analyses, it notes that the IRS rejected CATF's proposal for public reporting procedures for projects using the ISO standard for CO2-EOR. CATF argues that further measures are needed to reach net-zero emissions by mid-century, including a direct pay mechanism and further extensions of the commence construction deadline.

The report examines the physical and economic consequences of delaying climate action. It argues that because CO2 persists in the atmosphere and natural carbon sinks are saturating, stabilizing concentrations requires emissions to reach nearly zero. Delaying this transition increases the risk of nonlinear 'tipping points,' such as methane release from the Arctic, and leads to higher costs due to the need for more aggressive deployment of clean energy and the premature retirement of polluting assets. Using the Energy Policy Simulator for the U.S., the report finds that delaying action until 2030 increases the net present value of expenditures by 72% compared to starting in 2021.

The report outlines a framework for 'rights-based climate finance,' emphasizing that funding from developed to developing countries must be ambitious in volume, equitable in distribution, and provided as grants to avoid increasing debt. It advocates for the categorical exclusion of 'false solutions' like large-scale hydropower and geoengineering, while demanding robust social and environmental safeguards, including free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) for Indigenous Peoples and independent grievance redress mechanisms to ensure accountability.

The policy brief argues that carbon capture is a bipartisan avenue for climate action and proposes seven priorities: optimizing the 45Q tax credit, investing in CO2 transport and storage infrastructure, expanding the Department of Energy's mission, decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries, scaling up low-carbon hydrogen, establishing leadership in carbon removal, and aligning capital flows with innovation needs.

The document defines net zero as the balance between greenhouse gas emissions released and those removed from the atmosphere. It identifies the primary U.S. emitting sectors as transportation (28%), electricity (27%), and industry (22%), and outlines solutions including the electrification of transport and buildings, the expansion of wind and solar power, and the use of natural and technological carbon sinks. It highlights that while 12 U.S. states have net-zero mandates by 2050, massive adoption of electric vehicles and carbon removal technologies is necessary to meet Paris Agreement targets.

The Clean Air Task Force proposes a federal policy platform to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 through the deployment of zero-carbon technologies, strong regulatory standards, increased RD&D funding, and targeted financial incentives. Key priorities include achieving 100 percent zero-carbon electricity, reducing oil and gas methane emissions by 65%, and transitioning away from unabated fossil fuels while supporting vulnerable and fossil-fuel-dependent communities.

The World Resources Institute outlines ten priorities for President Biden to address the climate crisis, centered on the principles of inclusive prosperity, focusing on carbon-heavy sectors, and supporting subnational action. Key recommendations include committing to a 45-50% emissions reduction by 2030, passing a $2 trillion climate-smart stimulus package, and phasing out new passenger vehicle sales of polluting cars by 2035. The plan emphasizes a 'whole-of-government' approach combining standards, investments, carbon pricing, and environmental justice to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

The document critiques 'net zero' targets as a façade for continued pollution, highlighting the risks of relying on unproven carbon removal technologies and the injustice of shifting sequestration burdens to the global South. It calls for 'Real Zero' emissions, emphasizing the need for developed nations to take greater responsibility and implement systemic changes in energy, agriculture, and transport.

The report critiques 'net zero' targets as a form of 'greenwashing' that allows polluters to continue emitting greenhouse gases by relying on unproven technologies and carbon offsets. It argues that these targets often shift the burden of carbon sequestration to the Global South, constituting 'carbon colonialism'. The authors advocate for 'real zero' emissions, which require drastic reductions in fossil fuel use, the adoption of agroecology, and a transition to 100% renewable energy, particularly by developed nations in the North.

The document explores five supply-side pathways to reach 100 percent zero carbon power in the U.S. by 2035. It argues that while the final 10 percent of decarbonization is the most expensive, it can be achieved at a cost that keeps average wholesale rates similar to the 2020 average of 5.2 cents/kWh. The analyzed pathways include three green hydrogen options (fuel cells, turbine retrofits, and synthetic methane) and two carbon capture options (CCS retrofits and Direct Air Capture). The report highlights that green hydrogen production costs could drop to $1.50/kg by 2030 due to falling solar and wind costs and cheaper electrolyzers.

The document outlines a framework for establishing comprehensive net-zero targets, emphasizing the need for all-sector and all-gas coverage, the setting of separate emissions reduction targets to avoid over-reliance on carbon removals, and the importance of transparent communication and participatory design processes.

The report outlines a comprehensive strategy for the United States to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 through a diversified portfolio of carbon removal pathways. It categorizes these into 'Staples' (tree restoration and direct air capture), 'No Regrets' (agricultural soil carbon management), 'Speculative Bets' (carbon mineralization and enhanced root crops), and 'Supplemental Pathways' (BECCS, wood waste preservation, and extended timber rotations). The authors argue that an 'all-of-the-above' approach is the most robust and cost-effective, potentially removing 20 GtCO2 cumulatively by 2050. Key recommendations include federal subsidies for tree restoration, an expanded 45Q tax credit for direct air capture, and a 10-million-acre farm innovation program. The report also emphasizes the need for a 'strong enabling environment,' including low-carbon energy, credible life-cycle assessments, and improved geological storage and monitoring infrastructure.

The report details various direct and indirect U.S. tax subsidies for coal, oil, and natural gas, alongside federal R&D funding and overseas financing. It highlights that global fossil fuel subsidies, including negative externalities, reached $5.2 trillion in 2017. The authors argue that these subsidies are difficult to justify given the maturity of the industry and the severe health, environmental, and climate externalities—such as the social cost of carbon and air pollution deaths—that are not reflected in fuel prices.

The document details various direct and indirect U.S. tax subsidies for coal, oil, and natural gas, as well as federal R&D funding and overseas financing. It highlights the contradiction between these subsidies and global climate targets, noting that global fossil fuel subsidies reached $5.2 trillion in 2017. The text also analyzes the 'externalities' of fossil fuels, including the social cost of carbon, public health crises, and environmental degradation, while reviewing legislative efforts in the 116th Congress to reform energy tax credits.

The Clean Air Task Force supports the USE IT Act as a critical tool for developing a diversified portfolio of low-carbon technologies. The testimony emphasizes that meeting global temperature targets requires not only emission reductions but also negative emissions, which can be achieved through carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) and direct air capture (DAC). The author argues that the USE IT Act will catalyze innovation through prize competitions and facilitate the expansion of the US CO2 pipeline network, which currently stands at 4,500 miles but may need to reach 66,000 miles to support large-scale deployment.

The report examines how carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and solar radiation modification (SRM) are promoted by fossil fuel interests to justify continued oil, gas, and coal production. It argues that these technologies often rely on fossil fuel by-products or enable enhanced oil recovery, creating a 'moral hazard' that distracts from viable renewable energy transitions.

The 2019 Production Gap Report reveals that global fossil fuel production plans are significantly incompatible with the Paris Agreement goals. By 2030, planned production is projected to be 50% higher than consistent with a 2°C pathway and 120% higher than a 1.5°C pathway, with the largest gap occurring in coal. The report identifies that this gap is wider than the global emissions gap because governments continue to support production through subsidies, direct investment, and ambitious national targets. It examines 10 key producer countries and suggests 'supply-side' policies—such as extraction bans, subsidy reform, and just transition plans—to close the gap. The report emphasizes that international cooperation through the UN climate process and financial institutions is essential to manage an equitable decline in fossil fuel extraction.

The FUTURE Act provides tax credits for CO2 captured from power plants, industrial sources, and direct air capture, with rates ramping up to $50/ton for saline storage and $35/ton for enhanced oil recovery by 2026. The credits are available for 12 years to projects that commence construction within a six-year window. Assessments by the IEA and DOE suggest the act could increase capture capacity or reduce emissions by 10 to 30 million tons by 2030, with significant interest from industrial sources and companies like Occidental Petroleum.