How Europe’s Plans to Capture Carbon Risk Prolonging the Fossil Era

About the Series

With the climate crisis intensifying by the day, oil and gas companies argue that only ambitious plans to capture and store carbon dioxide from polluting industries present a realistic pathway for slashing emissions.

This series investigates how the fossil fuel industry is soaking up billions in euros in subsidies to start rolling out carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects โ€” despite grave concerns among climate advocates, and energy and financial analysts, over whether the industry’s favourite “climate solution” can ever make a meaningful dent in global emissions.

With construction already underway on a handful of Europe’s flagship CCS schemes, this series provides a unique and timely insight into Big Oil’s agenda, the cost to taxpayers, and the potentially disastrous implications of letting the technology extend the fossil fuel era.


This series was developedย with the support ofย Journalismfund Europe.
Image credit: Michael Buchsbaum

In This Series

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DeSmog estimates raise questions over climate benefits as EU officials consider whether the technology should qualify for billions of euros in subsidies.

DeSmog estimates raise questions over climate benefits as EU officials consider whether the technology should qualify for billions of euros in subsidies.
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Scope of corporate influence underscores concerns the technology will be used to prolong demand for planet-heating natural gas.

Scope of corporate influence underscores concerns the technology will be used to prolong demand for planet-heating natural gas.
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Flagship project burnishes climate credentials of Shell and Exxon, while state assumes lion's share of the risk.

Flagship project burnishes climate credentials of Shell and Exxon, while state assumes lion's share of the risk.
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Green targets are hindering roll-out of projects based on fossil fuels, executives warn conference in Rotterdam.

Green targets are hindering roll-out of projects based on fossil fuels, executives warn conference in Rotterdam.
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Documents show industry has spent years studying how to harness carbon capture projects for a process known as โ€œenhanced oil recovery.โ€

Documents show industry has spent years studying how to harness carbon capture projects for a process known as โ€œenhanced oil recovery.โ€
Analysis
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The oil industryโ€™s push to portray carbon capture as a climate solution at COP28 obscures how the technology is really being used.

The oil industryโ€™s push to portray carbon capture as a climate solution at COP28 obscures how the technology is really being used.
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A DeSmog review of 12 large-scale projects reveals a litany of cost-overruns and missed targets, with a net increase in emissions.

A DeSmog review of 12 large-scale projects reveals a litany of cost-overruns and missed targets, with a net increase in emissions.