CCS & Net Zero

Climate scientists conclude that human influence has affected the climate and that strong reductions in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) are needed to attain net zero carbon by 2050. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is the most prevalent of these gases. Net zero means that the amount of CO₂ we emit to the air must be in balance with the amount we remove.

The Paris Agreement is an international treaty aimed at keeping global warming below 2 degrees – ideally 1.5 degrees – compared to pre-industrial levels. The European Union aims to achieve climate neutrality (a net zero economy) by 2050. Likewise, the UK has legally binding target to reach net zero by 2050 while Scotland is aiming for 2045.

The transition to a cleaner, sustainable future must future-proof key industries, which produce essential products, such as fertiliser, steel and cement, while protecting economies and communities. Alongside other actions, such as an increase in renewable energy and behaviour change, CCS is recognised by the United Nations as an essential climate mitigation tool.

To have a 67% chance of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees, from the beginning of 2020 we have an estimated global carbon budget of 400 billion tonnes of CO₂ … so around 10 years’ worth of global emissions. Action taken during this decade will be absolutely crucial
- IPCC Sixth Assessment Report