[London, 12 November] – The Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA) welcomes Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s COP29 announcement of the UK’s ambitious target to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81% on 1990 levels by 2035.
The UK, one of the first countries to submit its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, has set a powerful example of climate leadership at a critical time in the net zero transition.
With 2024 projected to be the first year global temperatures exceed the 1.5°C limit of the Paris Agreement, and with extreme weather events causing unprecedented ecological and economic damage worldwide, the need for decisive action on reducing emissions has never been greater.
Achieving the 81% reduction target will require comprehensive decarbonisation of the power sector. Despite a positive increase in the development of renewable technologies, Gas-fired power remains an important part of the UK’s energy mix to ensure a consistent supply of energy to UK homes and businesses, especially during recent periods of low renewable generation. The use of power generation from CCS-equipped gas fired power stations is an important aspect of supporting a just transition towards a resilient and reliable low-carbon energy system.
Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) plays a crucial role in preventing millions of tonnes of CO₂ from reaching the atmosphere. It is essential not only for achieving emissions targets but also for ensuring energy security, as it provides the flexibility needed to balance the grid and support industries like manufacturing and transportation during periods of low wind and solar power.
The UK’s first two CCUS projects, HyNet and the East Coast Cluster, are set to capture over 8.5 million tonnes of CO₂ annually—the equivalent of removing nearly four million cars from off the road. These projects mark a vital step towards positioning the UK as a global leader in CCUS technology, supporting key industries and driving decarbonisation in critical sectors such as cement and chemicals.
According to the latest national greenhouse gas emissions statistics, the 81% reduction represents a decrease from 813 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (MtCO2e) in 1990 to 154 MtCO2e by 2035.(1) Given the UK’s target of achieving 20-30 Mtpa of CCUS by 2030 and 50 Mtpa by 2035, it is evident that CCUS will be instrumental in achieving this reduction goal.
The CCSA looks forward to continuing to work with the Government to achieve this ambitious target and secure the UK’s energy future.
Olivia Powis, CEO of the CCSA said:
“CCUS is an essential element of industrial decarbonisation and climate mitigation plans. With the UN’s clear warning about the risks of delay, urgent action is needed to protect people, the planet, and economies.”
“By setting the ambitious target of an 81% emissions reduction by 2035, the Prime Minister has shown a strong commitment to decarbonising the economy and advancing CCUS deployment in the UK’s industrial heartlands. It’s vital we keep up the momentum on CCUS technology to meet our emission reduction goals.”
Notes to Editors
Press Pack: Infographics and an animation accompany the press release for use. Download the press pack here.
About the CCSA
CCUS, or Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage, is a key low carbon solution – vital to meeting the UK’s statutory Net Zero target at least cost. CCUS enables industrial decarbonisation as well as the production of clean power, clean products (such as cement and chemicals) and clean hydrogen – which can also be used to decarbonise industry. In addition, CCUS also enables greenhouse gas removal from the atmosphere through Direct Air Capture with Storage (DACS) or Bioenergy with CCS (BECCS).
The CCSA is the trade association accelerating the commercial deployment of CCUS, with offices in the UK and Belgium. We work with members, governments and other organisations to ensure CCUS is developed and deployed at the pace and scale necessary to meet net zero goals and deliver sustainable growth across regions and nations.
The CCSA currently has over 120 member companies who are active in exploring and developing different applications of carbon capture and removals, CO2 transportation by pipeline and ship, utilisation, geological storage, and other permanent storage solutions, end-users in the power, industry, waste management, fuels, and hydrogen production sectors, plus supply chain, engineering, construction and management, legal and financial consulting sectors.
For media enquiries please email press@ccsassociation.org
References:
(1) – (Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). (2023). Final UK greenhouse gas emissions national statistics: 1990 to 2021 (Accredited official statistics). Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/final-uk-greenhouse-gas-emissions-national-statistics-1990-to-2021 on 12 November 2024.
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