Brussels, 24 October 2024 – Fifty-one signatories from leading industries and civil society are calling on the new European Commission to urgently scale up industrial carbon management to meet Europe’s climate objectives. An open letter addressed to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stresses the need for the rapid deployment of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) technologies to ensure European industries remain competitive and reach climate neutrality before 2050.

Industrial carbon management is fundamental to reducing emissions from some sectors such as heavy industry, waste-to-energy, and hydrogen production. Without rapid large-scale deployment of these technologies, Europe risks missing its climate targets.

“Despite CCS and CCU’s immense potential, their deployment in Europe remains slow and limited,” the CEOs write. They call for the European Commission to take bold actions by introducing an EU action plan for industrial carbon management covering regulatory frameworks, access to CO2 transport and storage infrastructure, and a market for low-carbon products.

The letter outlines five key steps for scaling up industrial carbon management, including the establishment of an EU CCS Alliance to drive collaboration across the value chain.

This initiative, coordinated by the advocacy group, CCS Europe, and the advisor to the EU, Zero Emissions Platform, amplifies the broad support for taking these decisive steps.

Chris Davies, Director of CCS Europe, said:

“Europe’s climate goals cannot be realised without widespread deployment of CCS. Industry is willing but needs leadership from the Commission. Support for industrial decarbonisation must become a priority for governments across Europe.”

Eadbhard Pernot, Secretary General, Zero Emissions Platform, commented:

“The science could not be clearer: industrial carbon management is essential to reach climate neutrality. European industries must reach net zero and remain competitive while doing so. The coming years represent a window for Europe to seize the carbon capture opportunity. Missing this means delaying climate mitigation and undermining our global competitiveness.”

This joint call for action signals a willingness to collaborate with the European Commission and other stakeholders to safeguard Europe industrial competitiveness and obtain its climate objectives.

–ENDS–