EU set to miss carbon storage target by half, Commission official says

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illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Euractiv or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The European Union is on track to achieve only about half of its planned carbon storage capacity by 2030, according to a European Commission official, raising concerns about one of the bloc’s key climate mitigation tools.

🔭 The context: Under EU law, oil and gas producers are required to help develop large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) facilities to lock away CO₂ emissions from heavy industry
• However, slow permitting, high costs, and legal challenges from industry players are delaying projects, even as CCS is expected to play a critical role in decarbonising cement, steel and chemicals

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Missing carbon storage targets could undermine the EU’s pathway to net zero, especially for sectors where emissions are hard to eliminate
• Without sufficient CCS capacity, residual industrial emissions may continue to enter the atmosphere, making it harder to meet climate goals and increasing reliance on offsets or more drastic emissions cuts elsewhere

⏭️ What’s next: The Commission may face pressure to strengthen enforcement, streamline permitting, or adjust climate plans if carbon storage lags persist — while courts assess legal challenges to the CCS law

💬 One quote: “We are clearly not where we need to be on carbon storage if we want to meet our climate objectives.”

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