Carbon capture is not just nice to have it’s a need to have

Europe is undergoing a historic transition with an important ambition: to deliver strong climate action while at the same time safeguarding competitiveness, jobs, and the security of supply. Europe has committed itself to deliver on different climate targets and a big challenge for us is turning these ambitions into concrete solutions that works in practice and does not just look promising in political strategies and policy papers.

One of the biggest challenges is to lower the CO₂ emissions and part of the answers to deliver on these climate targets lies in carbon capture and storage (CCS). If the green transition is to succeed, Europe must invest in the right infrastructure and here a well-developed CO₂ pipeline network, will be essential.

If we think that Europe can achieve climate neutrality through only electrification and renewables, we are going to be disappointed. CCS is a key technology in the green transition, mostly because we have different sectors where electrification or renewable alternatives are not always the right solution.

It’s especially an important asset in heavy industries such as cement, steel, chemicals, and waste-to-energy, where unavoidable CO₂ emissions will remain for decades to come. 

CCS is therefore not a choice, but a necessity if we want to maintain industrial activity in Europe rather than exporting emissions and possible jobs to third countries. However, this tool is not just about captioning the carbon and then the issue is solved. We need the right infrastructure, since the CO₂ must be transported safely and efficiently from emission sources to storage sites, often across national borders. And this requires a coherent European network of CO₂ pipelines, comparable to the gas, electricity, and district heating networks we rely on today. Only in this way can we reduce emissions and work greener while maintaining competitiveness and ensuring a sound business case.

I have recently visited one of the projects in Norway, where the focus is on capturing CO₂ from heavy industry and transporting it for permanent storage deep under the seabed. The first plant is expected to have a capacity to handle millions of tons of CO₂ annually. This project – and other projects in Europe as well – is concrete proof of how technological advances and international cooperation can translate climate goals into action. 

And I must say it is very impressive to stand close to the facilities where future climate solutions are not only discussed, but also built. I believe climate policy must be pragmatic and technology-neutral. We cannot allow ideological opposition to stand in the way of the green solutions that deliver real results. CO₂ pipelines are not a symbol of continued dependence on fossil fuels, instead they are a practical tool to cut emissions now while protecting Europe’s industrial base.

The European Union has a clear responsibility to create stable and predictable investment frameworks. Private companies will not commit billions of euros to support the CCS facilities and pipeline infrastructure if regulations are unclear, permitting processes take decades, or infrastructure planning remains fragmented.

At the same time, safety and public acceptance must be taken seriously. CO₂ pipelines must be planned responsibly, based on proven technology and transparent dialogue with citizens and local communities. Common European standards are essential to avoid a patchwork of national rules and to ensure public trust.

If Europe doesn’t act now, we risk falling behind the United States and other regions that are already investing heavily in CCS. That would harm both our climate ambitions and our economic strength. CCS enables us to reduce emissions where they are hardest to fight, while preserving industrial production, jobs, and competitiveness in Europe. And if we do not continue the development in this area, we risk moving important industries, thousands of jobs and CO₂ emissions to other parts of the world and not solving the climate issue while falling even more behind in the race of competitiveness.

The green transition must not become an experiment detached from reality. CO₂ pipelines may not be invisible, but they are critical infrastructure. If we are serious about taking responsibility for the climate without undermining Europe’s industrial foundation the time has come to think big, act wisely, and invest on time.