Effective greenhouse gas abatement options are crucial for achieving the Paris Agreement goals. CO2 capture and storage (CCS) can play a potentially significant role in the mitigation portfolio, in particular to reduce emissions from energy-intensive industry. However, controversies and general mistrust towards CCS persist due to the potential misuse to prolong fossil fuel reliance, and avoid transformative change, as well as questions over the technology’s safety.
In COP28, with the focus on transitioning away from fossil fuels, CCS took centre stage because parties need to agree on the circumstances under which fossil fuels are permissible, i.e. when they are ‘abated’. Despite clear societal and political sensitivities, the discussions on ‘abated fossil fuels’ have focussed exclusively on the technical and economic feasibility of CCS, side-stepping discussions on societal readiness, which have been significant showstoppers in the past.
Relying on the concept of system dynamics, this policy brief explores how society and justice can be added to the definition. Conceptually, the brief advocates for a paradigm shift from assuming top-down societal acceptance to co-creating societal readiness in a systemic approach. Transparent definitions, credible communication, and just policies are key.
