Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is central to the global goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Since CO₂ is the primary driver of climate change, understanding and managing its emissions is crucial to reaching this target. The issue becomes more severe as carbon dioxide emissions from manufacturing processes and the burning of fossil fuels increasingly impact the environment.
Net zero refers to a state in which the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere is balanced by the amount removed. This makes it possible to achieve a state where anthropological activities don’t underwrite the problem of global warming. Achieving this target is crucial to limiting the most severe impacts of climate change.
The Role of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the International Energy Agency (IEA), even deep emissions reductions alone are not sufficient to counter the severe effects of CO₂ emissions. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a promising technology that captures CO₂ from power plants and industrial facilities, and also helps remove legacy emissions already present in the atmosphere. It is effective for apprehending CO₂ and permanently storing it underground.
CCS involves three chief steps. The first step involves capturing CO₂ from identified emission sources, then transporting it through pipelines or containers, and finally storing it underground in geological formations such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs. This system prevents CO₂ from entering the atmosphere, thereby helping to address climate change.
CCS is also essential for supporting key negative emissions technologies, such as Direct Air Capture and Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS), both of which are necessary to offset unavoidable emissions.
Looking ahead to 2050, it is estimated that over eight gigatonnes of CO₂ will need to be captured and stored globally each year to meet net-zero targets. This represents a significant scale-up from the capabilities of current technologies.
Why CO₂ Matters for Net Zero 2050
CO₂ is the most important contributor to climate change caused by humans, thereby accounting for most greenhouse gas emissions. CO₂ is produced by almost every sector of the global economy. You can find its usage everywhere, from steel mills to power plants to transportation. To achieve the goal of net zero by 2050, it is essential to significantly reduce global CO₂ emissions. Any of the remaining emissions have to be balanced by getting rid of an equivalent amount from the atmosphere.
This task is predominantly complex. It involves hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, cement, and aviation. These industries rely on processes that inherently produce CO₂, making it difficult to eliminate emissions entirely with current technologies. For this reason, CO₂ management becomes a principal goal of the net-zero strategy.
Recent Developments in CCS
The CCS sector is growing fast, as administrations in the UK and Norway fund large-scale CO₂ storage and transport infrastructure. Many industries are focusing on deploying CCS in sectors where emissions are hardest to eliminate, such as cement, chemicals, steel, and blue hydrogen production. Although there has been significant technological progress in this area, the scale of deployment remains far below what is necessary to meet the 2050 targets.