Greenhouse Gas Removal Technologies
Status:Analysis. Published:
A study examining how emerging greenhouse gas removal technologies can support the UK's climate ambitions.
In July 2019, the government passed legislation to introduce a more ambitious greenhouse gas emissions target, committing the UK to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Achieving this will require the deployment of new infrastructure, including technologies to take greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere and store them permanently underground.
The government has asked the Commission to examine these greenhouse gas removal technologies, to assess the role they could play in delivering negative emissions and the policies needed to incentivise their rollout.
On 25 November, government published terms of reference for the study. The Commission will consider various direct air capture technologies and methods for bioenergy with carbon capture and storage. Alternative methods for removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, such as afforestation, peatland restoration or enhanced marine weathering fall outside of scope.
The Commission will make its recommendations to government by summer 2021.
Our approach
The Commission seeks to operate in an open and transparent manner. We will engage with all interested parties, including policy-makers, academics, infrastructure providers and other relevant bodies.
A call for evidence for this study was launched in January 2021, and closed to submissions on 3 March.
Terms of Reference
On 25 November 2020, government published the terms of reference for the Greenhouse Gas Removals study.
Latest Updates
Call for evidence opens on potential of greenhouse gas removal infrastructure to boost UK net zero strategy
The National Infrastructure Commission is inviting businesses, policy makers, scientists, academics, thinktanks and investors to share their views on the potential of emerging technologies designed to remove harmful greenhouse gas emissions directly from the atmosphere and store them. The Commission has today launched a new call for evidence as part of its study examining how...
