Carbon Capture: Miracle Fix or Greenwashing?

In climate circles, few topics spark more debate than carbon capture. Supporters hail it as a critical tool for reaching net zero. Detractors argue it’s a distraction — or worse, a licence to pollute.

So, what’s the truth?

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As more governments and companies invest in carbon capture technologies (also called carbon capture and storage, or CCS), it’s worth unpacking the science, the politics, and the uncomfortable grey areas.

What Is Carbon Capture, Really?

Carbon capture is the process of collecting CO₂ emissions — typically from industrial or energy sources — before they reach the atmosphere. The captured carbon is then either stored underground or used in products (like fuels or building materials).

There are 3 main approaches:

1. Point-source capture – capturing CO₂ at emission points (e.g., power plants, factories)
2. Direct air capture (DAC) – pulling CO₂ straight from ambient air
3. Carbon utilization – converting captured CO₂ into products like concrete or fuel

The Case For Carbon Capture

• Essential for heavy industries: Sectors like cement, steel, and chemical manufacturing are difficult to decarbonize through renewables alone.
• Needed for net negative emissions: IPCC models show that removing carbon from the atmosphere is necessary to stay below 1.5°C warming.
• Bridge technology: CCS can buy time while green alternatives scale up.

The Greenwashing Concerns

Critics argue carbon capture has been:

• Used to justify business-as-usual by fossil fuel giants
• Under-delivering: Despite decades of hype, most large-scale projects have underperformed or been shut down
• Overfunded vs. other solutions: Funds going into CCS might be better spent on solar, wind, or energy efficiency

And the data backs this: as of 2023, global CCS capacity accounts for less than 0.1% of global CO₂ emissions.

Who’s Betting on It?

• Occidental Petroleum is investing in the world’s largest direct air capture plant.
• ExxonMobil has committed over $3B toward CCS projects.
• Governments: The US Inflation Reduction Act gives major tax credits for carbon removal.

But motives matter — are these bets about climate impact, or carbon accounting?

So… Is It a Solution or Not?

It depends on how it’s used.
Carbon capture should be seen as a last resort, not a free pass. It's most valuable for:

• Decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries
• Providing carbon removal in addition to emissions cuts
• Supporting circular carbon models (e.g. CO₂-to-fuel)

But it cannot — and should not — replace the urgent shift to renewables, behaviour change, and emissions prevention.

Final Takeaway

Carbon capture isn’t inherently greenwashing — but it’s often used that way. The climate movement must remain clear-eyed: every dollar spent on CCS must deliver real, verifiable, and permanent reductions in atmospheric carbon.

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If done right, it’s a tool.
If used wrong, it’s a smokescreen.