UK government pledges £22bn for carbon capture projects

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🗞️ Driving the news: The UK government has pledged nearly £22bn over 25 years to develop carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in Merseyside and Teesside
• These projects aim to capture industrial CO2 emissions and store them underground, supporting the UK’s climate goals while creating thousands of jobs and attracting private investment

🔭 The context: Carbon capture is seen by experts as crucial for reducing greenhouse gases, but progress in the UK has been slow since initial plans were introduced in 2009
• The new funding will support three CCS projects and build infrastructure for transporting captured CO2 to storage sites in Liverpool Bay and the North Sea

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: CCS is a key strategy in meeting emissions reduction targets and mitigating climate change
• However, critics argue that investing in this technology may prolong the use of fossil fuels, delaying a transition to cleaner energy sources like wind or solar

⏭️ What's next: The projects are expected to start storing carbon by 2028, with potential to remove 8.5 million tonnes of CO2 annually
• The government aims to capture 20-30 million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2030

💬 One quote: “This game-changing technology will bring 4,000 good jobs and billions of private investment” – Chancellor Rachel Reeves

📈 One stat: The projects are expected to attract £8bn in private investment and support 50,000 jobs long-term

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