As 100 days of the New Commission Pass, CCS Europe Calls for Greater Urgency on CCS

As the first 100 days of the new European Commission pass, CCS Europe is concerned that Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) has not been given the prominence it requires to meet Europe’s net-zero commitments. This in spite of the publication of the Clean Industrial Deal, billed as an important step toward industrial decarbonisation in Europe.

Acknowledging the milestone, Chris Davies, Director of CCS Europe, stated:

“In its Communication of a year ago, the last Commission said that extensive deployment of CCS technology was ‘indispensable’ to the achievement of net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Its climate modelling said that 280 million tonnes of CO2 need to be captured annually by 2040. 

“While the Clean Industrial Deal is a welcome step in recognising the challenges of industrial decarbonisation, the first 100 days of this Commission have proven a great disappointment to those who seek urgent progress on CCS. We have heard hardly a word about CCS, and industry leaders have no idea which commissioner is supposed to be taking the lead, or whether any strategy is being developed to meet the needs of hard-to-abate industries.” 

CCS: Still Lacking a Clear Roadmap 

CCS Europe welcomes the Commission’s recognition of industrial decarbonisation as a priority through the Clean Industrial Deal. However, without a concrete plan for CCS, the ambition of achieving net-zero CO₂ emissions risks falling short. 

CCS is a proven and indispensable technology for reducing emissions from hard-to-abate sectors such as cement, aluminium, and chemicals. Despite this, there is still no clear strategy, no dedicated leadership, and no firm commitment to scaling up CCS deployment across Europe.

What Must Happen Next 

CCS Europe urges the European Commission to: 

  1. Clarify political leadership – Appoint a dedicated commissioner responsible for advancing CCS within the Clean Industrial Deal framework. 
  2. Deliver a concrete CCS strategy – Outline policy incentives, regulatory certainty, and funding mechanisms to accelerate deployment. 
  3. Strengthen engagement with industry – Ensure CCS is prioritised in industrial policy discussions, enabling companies to make long-term investment decisions. 

Without immediate action, Europe risks falling behind in the race to industrial decarbonisation, potentially undermining its global competitiveness and 2050 climate targets.