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The Clean Air Task Force advocates for increasing the 45Q tax credit to $85 per tonne for carbon capture and $180 per tonne for DAC, while indexing these values to inflation from 2020 to prevent economic erosion. The brief suggests that these enhancements, combined with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, could lead to a 13-fold increase in carbon capture projects by 2031, sequestering between 72 and 125 million tonnes of CO2 annually.

The study compares the levelised cost of hydrogen (LCOH) for different carriers and transport methods to Rotterdam. It finds that pipeline imports from Norway (2030) and Algeria (2040/2050) offer the lowest LCOH. Among marine carriers, cracked ammonia is the most cost-effective for delivering liberated hydrogen, while uncracked ammonia is the cheapest overall if used directly as fuel. Saudi Arabia is identified as the most economical export location for all marine carriers due to low natural gas prices and favorable construction costs. Carbon emissions are lowest for liquid hydrogen (LH2) among liberated hydrogen chains, but uncracked ammonia is the least carbon-intensive overall. The report also details the technical, safety, and infrastructure challenges associated with each carrier, noting that while ammonia has mature transport infrastructure, large-scale cracking technology is still in development.

The European Union is developing a certification mechanism for carbon dioxide removals (CDR) to address the lack of widely accepted standards and reduce risks to the environment and consumer protection. The Clean Air Task Force recommends that the EU adopt a framework based on the IPCC's approach, categorizing methods by removal process and storage timescale rather than the 'natural vs. technological' dichotomy. To ensure integrity, the document proposes that certified removals must be real, measurable, additional, permanent, avoid leakage, and avoid double counting. Additionally, it suggests the creation of EU-level scientific and stakeholder advisory boards to oversee the framework's implementation and its integration into voluntary and compliance markets.

The Clean Air Task Force asserts that Europe can address its energy security needs and reduce climate impact by targeting wasted methane in Algeria. It highlights that Algeria's wasted gas volume exceeds the amount Italy seeks in new deals and that capturing this gas is more climate-friendly and potentially more lucrative than new drilling.

The report argues that while Europe has significant theoretical CO2 storage capacity, actual deployment is hindered by a funding gap, regulatory barriers to cross-border transport, and a lack of coordinated infrastructure. It recommends shifting from project-based funding to system-based approaches, implementing carbon contracts for difference (CCfDs), and establishing a market for low-carbon products. The authors call for a formal EU strategy to set milestone targets and coordinate the development of large-scale, open-access storage sites beyond the North Sea.

The MENA region is well-positioned to produce zero-carbon fuels due to its abundant solar, wind, and hydrocarbon resources, as well as existing industrial infrastructure. While 'green' hydrogen (from renewables) and 'blue' hydrogen (from natural gas with carbon capture and storage) are both viable, the report argues that hydrocarbon-derived fuels could provide a lower-cost catalytic role in scaling the market. However, significant barriers exist, including a lack of meaningful demand beyond industrial users, the absence of carbon pricing or regulatory requirements to reduce emissions, and a lack of common certification schemes for lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. The report recommends regional coordination, the development of fuel-neutral procurement policies, and the establishment of comprehensive regulatory frameworks for carbon management to attract investment and ensure environmental integrity.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) argues that carbon dioxide removals (CDR) are essential for the EU to reach climate neutrality by 2050, as current emission reduction policies are insufficient. CATF proposes a certification mechanism based on a 'long-cycle' (geological storage) and 'short-cycle' (terrestrial sinks) categorisation rather than a binary 'natural' vs 'industrial' split. To ensure environmental integrity, CATF recommends seven minimum standards: real, measurable, permanent, additional, avoidance of leakage, avoidance of double counting, and sustainability. The submission emphasizes that credits from short-cycle and long-cycle removals should not be fungible, with long-cycle removals carrying higher value due to their permanence. CATF also suggests a three-step process for integrating innovative CDR methods and a governance structure involving a clear division of responsibilities between public authorities and private certification bodies, supported by a Union-wide registry.

Analysis by Carbon Limits for Clean Air Task Force indicates that the public funding per tonne of CO2 avoided for recent carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in Norway and the Netherlands is comparable to, or lower than, the average funding spent by EU schemes for onshore wind, offshore wind, and solar power since 2012.

The policy brief contends that Germany cannot achieve climate neutrality by 2045 without carbon management technologies, including carbon capture and storage (CCS), direct air capture (DAC), and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS). It highlights that current industrial emissions reductions are insufficient and that a lack of CO2 transport infrastructure and storage sites within Germany necessitates a strategy to connect to regional hubs in Northern Europe. The document further argues that carbon management is essential for decarbonizing the hydrogen economy—specifically through the use of blue hydrogen—and for producing the low-carbon industrial materials required for the renewable energy transition.

The document highlights the dependency of the European wind industry on steel, noting that turbines consist of at least 70% steel. It argues that while wind energy is critical for the EU's energy transition, the steel production process remains highly carbon-intensive, emitting 1.85 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of steel in 2020. Using the example of Dirostahl in Remscheid, the brief illustrates the technical and financial barriers to switching from fossil gas to hydrogen or carbon capture and storage (CCS), specifically citing a potential price increase of 700 to 800 Euro per tonne of steel if switching to renewable hydrogen. It calls for the development of hydrogen and CO2 pipeline infrastructure and the implementation of policy tools like Carbon Contracts for Difference to maintain industrial competitiveness during the transition.

The report reviews 42 NDCs to identify national priorities for advanced low-emission technologies. It finds that 14 jurisdictions include carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), 16 include low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia, and 11 prioritize nuclear energy. The analysis highlights a mix of developed and developing nations seeking these technologies, with some relying on international financial and technological support for implementation.

The Clean Air Task Force asserts that current CO2 capture, transport, and storage deployment in the EU is insufficient for 2050 net-zero goals. While pipelines have access to Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) funding, other modalities like ship, barge, rail, and truck do not, which increases investor risk. The document calls for the TEN-T proposal to grant Project of Common Interest (PCI) status to these multiple transport modalities to unlock funding and streamline permitting.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is well-positioned to become a global leader in carbon management due to its existing technical expertise, financial resources, and geologic storage capacity. While current project numbers are low compared to the U.S. and Europe, the region has significant potential to scale up carbon capture to reduce industrial emissions and produce zero-carbon fuels like hydrogen and ammonia.

The testimony asserts that while electrification is critical, approximately 60% of U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions come from sectors like heavy industry and long-haul transport that are difficult to electrify. Hydrogen is presented as a versatile, carbon-free energy carrier capable of addressing these gaps. The author highlights specific opportunities in long-haul trucking, aviation, marine shipping, and ironmaking, while noting that the U.S. may require between 8 and 18 quads of hydrogen per year by 2050 for full decarbonization. To achieve this, the document advocates for federal R&D, the development of Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the implementation of production tax incentives to reduce costs through scaling.

The document advocates for the integration of 'clean firm power' like nuclear energy to complement variable renewables, citing land-use constraints and system costs. It identifies project management and lack of standardization as primary drivers of high nuclear costs and proposes a shift toward manufactured, standardized designs. Key policy recommendations include reforming NRC licensing fees, adopting consent-based siting for spent fuel, and repurposing retired fossil fuel sites.

The document highlights a significant gap between the intended CO2 capture initiatives in Europe and the actual storage capacity available to accommodate them. While Europe possesses a theoretical storage capacity of over 500 Gt, the development of sites is slow. Analysis indicates that by 2030, available storage capacity will only cover approximately half of the captured CO2 from announced projects, with the gap narrowing slightly to 40% of demand by 2032. The author argues that meeting net zero targets by 2050 requires coordinated planning, investment in geological characterisation, and streamlined permitting to expand storage infrastructure, particularly for regions lacking access to the North Sea.

Analysis by Carbon Limits for Clean Air Task Force estimates a cumulative €10 billion funding gap by 2030 for announced carbon capture and storage projects in Europe, representing non-recoverable costs after accounting for EU Emissions Trading System savings and existing funding. While the EU's Innovation Fund is the primary contributor, the document argues that further public support at the EU and national levels—similar to the Netherlands' SDE++ programme, which awarded up to €2.1 billion in 2021—is essential to cover first-mover costs and establish CO2 transport and storage infrastructure.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 establishes a series of tax incentives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions to an estimated 42% below 2005 levels by 2030. These provisions cover clean electricity, including the extension of renewable energy credits and support for existing nuclear power; clean fuel production, specifically targeting clean hydrogen, renewable fuels, and sustainable aviation fuels; energy efficiency for homes and commercial buildings; and the adoption of clean vehicles. Additionally, the Act provides incentives for clean energy manufacturing to develop domestic supply chains for technologies such as carbon capture, solar, wind, and battery components.

The report provides evidence of methane emissions at 180 out of over 250 oil and gas sites visited across 11 European countries. It highlights a current lack of EU-wide policy and common standards for addressing venting, flaring, and fugitive emissions. The author suggests that as the world's largest fossil fuel importer, the EU could drive global methane mitigation by setting stringent standards for imports.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) critiques the draft USAID Climate Strategy 2022-2030, arguing that it overlooks critical opportunities to address the climate crisis. CATF recommends that USAID support access to advanced clean energy technologies—such as clean hydrogen, advanced nuclear, and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS)—which the draft strategy currently deems too early for investment. Additionally, CATF urges USAID to better integrate the reduction of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), specifically methane, to align with the Global Methane Pledge. Finally, the organization emphasizes that USAID must ensure its programs are consistent with the specific policy priorities and capacity needs of host countries to ensure successful implementation.