Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has thrown his weight behind carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a key technology in the fight against climate change. But George Monbiot, writing in The Guardian, warns that this is a dangerous distraction that will only prolong our reliance on fossil fuels.
The Carbon Capture Con
Monbiot argues that CCS is a "con" that has been promoted by the fossil fuel industry for decades to delay meaningful action on climate change. He points out that the technology is expensive, unproven at scale, and often fails to deliver on its promises. According to Monbiot, the focus on CCS diverts attention and resources away from the real solutions: renewable energy and energy efficiency.
"Carbon capture is a fantasy that allows politicians to pretend they are tackling climate change while continuing to approve new oil and gas projects," Monbiot writes. He cites evidence that many CCS projects have underperformed or been abandoned, and that the technology cannot capture enough CO2 to make a significant dent in global emissions.
Burnham's Position
Andy Burnham has been a vocal advocate for CCS, particularly in the context of the HyNet project in North West England, which aims to capture carbon from industrial sources and store it under the Irish Sea. Burnham argues that CCS is essential for decarbonising heavy industries like steel and cement, which are difficult to electrify. He has also called for government investment in the technology to create jobs and position the region as a leader in low-carbon innovation.
But Monbiot counters that this approach is misguided. "By embracing CCS, Burnham is lending credibility to a technology that the fossil fuel industry has used as a smokescreen for decades," he writes. "The result is that we continue to burn coal, oil and gas, while pretending that we can somehow capture the emissions afterwards."
The Real Solution: Renewables
Monbiot insists that the only viable path to net-zero emissions is a rapid transition to renewable energy, combined with energy efficiency and electrification. He points to the falling costs of solar and wind power, which are now cheaper than fossil fuels in many parts of the world. "Every dollar spent on carbon capture is a dollar not spent on solar panels, wind turbines, or battery storage," he says.
The debate over CCS is not just about technology; it's about political will and the influence of the fossil fuel industry. Monbiot argues that by supporting CCS, politicians like Burnham are falling into a trap set by the industry. "The fossil fuel companies know that their days are numbered, so they are trying to create a lifeline in the form of carbon capture," he writes. "But that lifeline is an illusion."
The Way Forward
Monbiot calls on Burnham and other politicians to abandon their support for CCS and instead focus on a rapid, just transition to renewable energy. He acknowledges that this will require significant investment and political courage, but insists that it is the only honest and effective way to tackle the climate crisis.
"We don't need carbon capture; we need to stop emitting carbon in the first place," Monbiot concludes. "That means ending the era of fossil fuels and embracing a future powered by renewables. Anything else is a dangerous distraction."
