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The document highlights a €10 billion funding gap for announced carbon management projects in Europe and argues that the EU ETS alone is insufficient to drive the deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS). It recommends a faster phase-out of free allowances by 2029, a significant expansion of the Innovation Fund, and the use of Carbon Contracts for Difference (CCfDs) to provide investor certainty and bridge the gap between current ETS prices and the actual costs of carbon abatement.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 significantly increases the 45Q tax credit to $85/tonne for industrial and power generation facilities and $180/tonne for direct air capture (DAC) when stored in saline geologic formations. These enhancements, alongside a lowered capture threshold for industrial emitters (from 100,000 to 12,500 tonnes per year) and DAC facilities (from 100,000 to 1,000 tonnes per year), aim to make carbon capture more accessible for hard-to-abate sectors like steel, cement, and refineries. The IRA also extends the construction window to January 1, 2033, and ties full credit realization to worker requirements, such as minimum wage. Based on these developments, the document urges Europe to establish its own Carbon Capture and Storage Strategy, develop CO2 transport and storage infrastructure, and implement supportive policy frameworks like carbon contracts for difference.

Since the 2018 45Q reform, 84 carbon management projects have been announced in the U.S., with a significant surge in 2021. The majority of these projects are industrial-sector initiatives utilizing saline storage, though regional infrastructure in the Midwest is enabling ethanol projects. The power sector accounts for 23% of projects, primarily natural gas and coal plants, while only one large-scale Direct Air Capture plant is planned.

The briefing assesses synthetic natural gas (SNG), produced from electrolytic hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide, concluding it is an inefficient decarbonization tool. While SNG can utilize existing natural gas infrastructure, its production is energy-intensive and costly, with landed costs in Northwest Europe estimated at 4 to 9 times the wholesale price of natural gas. The author contends that SNG creates a 'value trap' by consuming clean hydrogen that should be prioritized for sectors where no other decarbonization options exist. Furthermore, the document notes that replacing 20% of 2023 EU LNG imports with SNG would require approximately 12 million tons of clean hydrogen and roughly 17% of total U.S. electricity production.

The document contends that plastic production and incineration are significant climate threats, projected to emit 2.8 gigatons of CO2e annually by 2050 and consume up to 13% of the global 1.5C carbon budget. It systematically debunks five industry 'myths' regarding net zero: that clean energy and carbon capture and storage (CCS) can make production emissions-free, that plastic waste is a carbon-free fuel, that plastics can be carbon sinks, that offset schemes are viable, and that bioplastics solve the problem. The author concludes that these narratives are delay tactics and that 'real zero'—reducing production—is the only solution.

The document outlines the role of CCUS in low-carbon scenarios, noting its potential to contribute 4% of global CO2 reductions by 2030 and 12% by 2050. It highlights that while CCUS has historically underperformed, investment is increasing, with a global market potentially reaching $4–$10 billion by 2026-27. Canada is positioned as having an early advantage due to expertise in enhanced oil recovery (EOR), geological storage in Alberta and Saskatchewan, and early adoption in coal-fired electricity and oil sands. Notable investments include $685 million for a network in Norway and significant funding for Direct Air Capture (DAC) from the US, UK, and private entities.

The document distinguishes between 'safe bets'—commercially available solutions with few constraints—and 'wild cards'—solutions with uncertain prospects. It asserts that safe bets will drive most reductions by 2030, while wild cards will increase in importance by 2050.

The document distinguishes between 'safe bets'—technologies available commercially without major implementation constraints—and 'risky bets'—solutions with uncertain prospects that could still be significant for carbon neutrality. It notes that safe bets provide the majority of reductions by 2030, while risky bets increase in importance by 2050.

The document identifies systemic barriers to transitioning away from fossil fuels, particularly for countries heavily reliant on oil and gas revenues, such as Canada, Nigeria, and Malaysia. It argues that a successful transition requires multilateral coordination between importers and exporters, collaborative governance frameworks, and a commitment to Just Transition principles to avoid exacerbating global inequalities. Key recommendations include strategic economic diversification, the use of multi-model evidence for planning, and the implementation of restorative justice to address historical harms.

A coalition of 73 organizations argues that California's 2022 Draft Scoping Plan fails to accelerate climate targets or increase the pace of action beyond existing commitments. The group proposes a comprehensive set of revisions, including phasing out oil extraction by 2035 and refining by 2045, banning new gas-fired power generation immediately, and achieving a zero-carbon electric sector by 2035. They also call for a 30% reduction in vehicle miles traveled by 2035, a phase-out of new gas appliance sales by 2030, and the limitation of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) to only the most essential, hard-to-decarbonize sectors.

The report outlines a pathway for Lao PDR to reach net zero emissions by 2050, utilizing LEAP and NEMO modelling to compare a Baseline Scenario with a transformative Net Zero Scenario. Key findings highlight the necessity of diversifying the energy mix beyond hydropower, electrifying transport and cooking, and implementing carbon removal technologies. The analysis emphasizes that while hydropower remains dominant, the country must scale up solar, wind, and biomass to ensure resilience against climate-induced droughts. Achieving the target requires significant infrastructure upgrades, including grid modernization and the deployment of direct air capture (DAC) to offset residual industrial and agricultural emissions. The report also addresses critical economic challenges, such as high public debt and currency depreciation, and recommends strengthening regional cooperation through the ASEAN Power Grid and the APAEC framework.

The document evaluates seven electricity generation scenarios for Estonia, concluding that 'All technologies' and 'Renewable + Storage' pathways offer the best balance of feasibility and benefit. It identifies a gap of 2.7 GWh to 7 GWh in renewable electricity for 2030 objectives and recommends streamlining planning processes, deploying batteries, and developing offshore wind to meet climate goals.

The paper argues that the United States must invest up to $6 billion per year in federal funding over the next decade to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, targeting a removal benchmark of 2 GtCO2 per year. It distinguishes carbon removal—which includes natural methods like tree restoration and high-tech methods like direct air capture—from emissions reduction measures such as CCS with fossil energy. The author asserts that public funding is necessary to bridge the gap between costs and co-benefits for natural pathways, while technological pathways require sustained R&D and commercialization support.

The document examines the resource requirements and social implications of Direct Air Capture (DAC) in the U.S., arguing that while onsite emissions are minimal, responsible scaling requires inclusive decision-making and equity-focused policies to ensure benefits, such as job creation, are distributed fairly.

The document argues that current U.S. federal tax credits suffer from design deficiencies and a cycle of short-term extensions that discourage private sector planning. It proposes a shift toward a predictable, forward-looking regime featuring technology-neutral designs, performance-based incentives, and equity measures to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

The U.S. is leading global CCUS development, driven by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, with over 120 projects in planning or construction. China is rapidly expanding its capacity, having commissioned its first million-ton project in 2022 and developing several large-scale demonstration projects. Both nations face significant barriers: the U.S. struggles with commercial bank financing and public perception, while China lacks a comprehensive regulatory framework and large-scale transport infrastructure. Under the Sunnylands Statement, the two countries aim to advance at least five large-scale cooperative CCUS projects each by 2030.

The document identifies critical infrastructure and policy needs for scaling carbon removal in the United States, including the requirement for low-carbon energy to power direct air capture, the need for independent life-cycle assessments, and the expansion of geologic storage and CO2 pipeline networks. It emphasizes the importance of improving monitoring systems for natural carbon capture and increasing land use efficiency to balance food production with ecosystem restoration.

Direct air capture (DAC) involves scrubbing CO2 from ambient air for underground storage or use in products, requiring low-carbon energy to achieve net carbon removal. The document argues that the U.S. could plausibly remove over 1 gigaton of CO2 by midcentury if commercial deployment begins by 2025 with 20–30 percent annual growth. Achieving this requires a dual policy approach: approximately $150 million in annual public funding for R&D and demonstration over the next decade, and amendments to the 45Q tax credit to incentivize private investment, with estimated tax expenditures rising from $360 million per year by 2025 to $1.3 billion by 2030.

The document examines carbon mineralization and enhanced root crops as potential carbon removal strategies. Carbon mineralization, which uses reactive materials to form solid carbonate minerals, could remove 410 MtCO2 per year if one-third of the construction aggregate market shifted to mineralized aggregate. Enhanced root crops, though theoretical, could sequester up to 185 MtCO2 per year across 249 million acres of major U.S. crops. Both technologies face significant research and development hurdles and require sustained federal funding to resolve unknowns regarding scalability, environmental impacts, and commercial viability.

The document outlines the role of direct air capture (DAC) as a complement to greenhouse gas emission reductions to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees C. It asserts that while DAC plants have resource usage impacts similar to other industrial infrastructure, they can have lower on-site emissions if powered by renewable energy. The author recommends that federal funding for DAC be contingent on social and environmental assessments, community engagement, and the use of local labor. It further calls on the U.S. Congress to leverage purchasing power and increase appropriations for research and development to ensure equitable and cost-effective deployment.