Research Article

The Role, Challenges, and Future Prospects of CCS in Global Climate Governance

Yuncheng GuoNorthwest University*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is an important technology for reducing carbon emissions and achieving global carbon neutrality goals. This paper reviews the development status, main applications, challenges, and future prospects of CCS in global climate governance. The study introduces the basic principles of CCS and discusses its applications in hard-to-abate industries, such as steel, cement, and chemical production. These industries produce large amounts of carbon dioxide emissions, which are difficult to reduce only through renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements. This paper also discusses the role of negative emission technologies, including Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) and Direct Air Carbon with Capture and Storage (DACCS). The results show that CCS has great potential to support industrial emission reduction and global climate goals. However, its large-scale development still faces challenges, including high costs, limited infrastructure, technical difficulties, and concerns about storage safety. In the future, CCS development will require technological improvement, policy support, and international cooperation. CCS should work together with renewable energy and other low-carbon technologies to help achieve long-term climate goals.

Keywords: Carbon Capture and Storage; Climate Governance; Carbon Neutrality; Deep Decarbonization; Negative Emission Technologies
Published: September 1, 2026
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2026.36392
Volume: CHR Vol.120
pp. 121-129
Download PDF

References

  1. IPCC. (2023).Climate change 2023: Synthesis report: Contribution of working groups I, II and III to the sixth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
  2. IPCC. (2022).Climate change 2022: Mitigation of climate change: Contribution of working group III to the sixth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press.
  3. International Energy Agency. (2021).Net zero by 2050: A roadmap for the global energy sector. International Energy Agency.
  4. Xie, W., Aryanpur, V., Deane, P., & Daly, H. E. (2025). Negative emissions technologies in energy system models and mitigation scenarios: A systematic review.Applied Energy, 380, 125064. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.125064
  5. Gough, C., Garcia-Freites, S., Jones, C., Moore, B., et al. (2018). Challenges to the use of BECCS as a keystone technology in pursuit of 1.5°C.Global Sustainability, 1, e5. https://doi.org/10.1017/sus.2018.3
  6. Bui, M., Adjiman, C. S., Bardow, A., Anthony, E. J., Boston, A., Brown, S., Fennell, P. S., Fuss, S., Galindo, A., Hackett, L. A., Hallett, J. P., Herzog, H. J., Jackson, G., Kemper, J., Krevor, S., Maitland, G. C., Matuszewski, M., Metcalfe, I. S., Petit, C., Puxty, G., Reimer, J., Reiner, D. M., Rubin, E. S., Scott, S. A., Shah, N., Smit, B., Trusler, J. P. M., Webley, P., Wilcox, J., & Mac Dowell, N. (2018). Carbon capture and storage (CCS): The way forward.Energy & Environmental Science, 11(5), 1062–1176. https://doi.org/10.1039/C7EE02342A
  7. Liu, E., Lu, X., & Wang, D. (2023). A systematic review of carbon capture, utilization and storage: Status, progress and challenges.Energies, 16(6), 2865. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16062865
  8. Dziejarski, B., Krzyżyńska, R., & Andersson, K. (2023). Current status of carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies in the global economy: A survey of technical assessment.Fuel, 342, 127776. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2023.127776
  9. Leung, D. Y. C., Caramanna, G., & Maroto-Valer, M. M. (2014). An overview of current status of carbon dioxide capture and storage technologies.Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 39, 426–443. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2014.07.093
  10. Hanssen, S. V., Daioglou, V., Steinmann, Z. J. N., Doelman, J. C., van Vuuren, D. P., & Huijbregts, M. A. J. (2020). The climate change mitigation potential of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage.Nature Climate Change, 10(11), 1023–1029. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-020-0885-y
  11. Wang, P., Robinson, A. J., & Papadokonstantakis, S. (2024). Prospective techno-economic and life cycle assessment: A review across established and emerging carbon capture, storage and utilization (CCS/CCU) technologies.Frontiers in Energy Research, 12, 1412770. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2024.1412770
  12. Wennersten, R., Sun, Q., & Li, H. (2015). The future potential for carbon capture and storage in climate change mitigation—An overview from perspectives of technology, economy and risk.Journal of Cleaner Production, 103, 724–736. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.09.023
  13. Davies, L. L., Uchitel, K., & Ruple, J. (2013). Understanding barriers to commercial-scale carbon capture and sequestration in the United States: An empirical assessment.Energy Policy, 59, 745–761. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2013.04.033
  14. Storrs, K. D. P., Lyhne, I., & Drustrup, R. (2023). A comprehensive framework for feasibility of CCUS deployment: A meta-review of literature on factors impacting CCUS deployment.International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 125, 103878. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2023.103878
  15. Golombek, R., Greaker, M., Kverndokk, S., & Ma, L. (2023). Policies to promote carbon capture and storage technologies.Environmental and Resource Economics, 85, 267–302. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10640-023-00767-5
  16. Meehan, D. N. (2025). Risks and challenges in CO₂ capture, use, transportation, and storage.Sustainability, 17(17), 7871. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17177871
  17. Kazlou, T., Cherp, A., & Jewell, J. (2024). Feasible deployment of carbon capture and storage and the requirements of climate targets.Nature Climate Change, 14(10), 1047–1055. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-02104-0
  18. Global CCS Institute. (2024). Global status of CCS 2024.Global CCS Institute.
  19. IPCC. (2005).IPCC special report on carbon dioxide capture and storage. Cambridge University Press.
  20. Boot-Handford, M. E., Abanades, J. C., Anthony, E. J., Blunt, M. J., Brandani, S., Mac Dowell, N., Fernández, J. R., Ferrari, M. C., Gross, R., Hallett, J. P., Haszeldine, R. S., Heptonstall, P., Lyngfelt, A., Makuch, Z., Mangano, E., Porter, R. T. J., Pourkashanian, M., Rochelle, G. T., Shah, N., Yao, J. G., & Fennell, P. S. (2014). Carbon capture and storage update.Energy & Environmental Science, 7(1), 130–189. https://doi.org/10.1039/C3EE42350F
  21. Benson, S. M., & Cole, D. R. (2008). CO₂ sequestration in deep sedimentary formations.Elements, 4(5), 325–331. https://doi.org/10.2113/gselements.4.5.325
  22. Zhao, K., Jia, C., Li, Z., Du, X., Wang, Y., Li, J., Yao, Z., & Yao, J. (2023). Recent advances and future perspectives in carbon capture, transportation, utilization, and storage (CCTUS) technologies: A comprehensive review.Fuel, 351, 128913. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2023.128913
  23. Haszeldine, R. S. (2009). Carbon capture and storage: How green can black be?Science, 325(5948), 1647–1652. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1172246
  24. Paltsev, S., Morris, J., Kheshgi, H., & Herzog, H. (2021). Hard-to-abate sectors: The role of industrial carbon capture and storage (CCS) in emission mitigation.Applied Energy, 300, 117322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.117322
  25. Zhang, T., Zhang, M., Jin, L., Xu, M., & Li, J. (2024). Advancing carbon capture in hard-to-abate industries: Technology, cost, and policy insights.Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, 26(7), 2077–2094. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-024-02810-5
  26. Kumar, A., Tiwari, A. K., & Milani, D. (2024). Decarbonizing hard-to-abate heavy industries: Current status and pathways towards net-zero future.Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 187, 408–430. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2024.04.107
  27. Wang, J., Zheng, Y., He, S., Yan, J., Zeng, X., Li, S., Tian, Z., Lei, L., Chen, Y., & Deng, S. (2024). Can bioenergy with carbon capture and storage deliver negative emissions? A critical review of life cycle assessment.Journal of Cleaner Production, 434, 139839. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.139839
  28. Shen, M., Kong, F., Tong, L., Luo, Y., Yin, S., Liu, C., Zhang, P., Wang, L., Chu, P. K., & Ding, Y. (2022). Carbon capture and storage (CCS): Development path based on carbon neutrality and economic policy.Carbon Neutrality, 1, 37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43979-022-00039-z