This is how much we can cool the planet by burying carbon underground

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

🗞️ Driving the news: A new study warns that the planet’s realistic capacity to store carbon underground is far more limited than previously believed
• While theoretical estimates suggested storage of up to 13 trillion tons of CO₂, the new research slashes that to just 1.6 trillion tons
• The study highlights that practical constraints — like fault lines, proximity to cities, and groundwater protection — dramatically reduce viable options
• This would avert only 0.7°C of warming, not the 5°C many models had assumed

🔭 The context: Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has been a cornerstone of many net-zero plans, especially for hard-to-abate sectors
• This study, published in Nature, is the first to map out “prudent potential,” excluding high-risk geological areas
• The findings challenge the assumption that CCS can be used at scale to compensate for ongoing fossil fuel emissions
• Researchers stress CCS should be seen as a finite resource, not a climate escape hatch

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Misplaced reliance on CCS could delay essential emissions reductions
• The limited capacity means it must be prioritized for sectors like cement, steel, and aviation where alternatives are scarce
• Using CCS to prolong fossil fuel use in power and transport could squander its limited climate benefit
• Strategic planning is now essential to preserve the remaining viable storage for the most critical applications

⏭️ What’s next: Governments may need to rethink CCS deployment strategies in national climate plans
• Focus likely to shift toward rapid emissions reductions and renewable energy scaling
• International frameworks may begin ranking or certifying storage sites to prevent premature overuse
• The study could influence funding and investment decisions in carbon removal technologies

💬 One quote: “Carbon storage is often portrayed as a way out of the climate crisis Our findings make clear that it is a limited tool” — Matthew Gidden, lead author

📈 One stat: Only 1.6 trillion tons of CO₂ can be safely and realistically stored underground—just 12% of the previously assumed potential

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