A new report shows Europe's carbon storage projects are not moving fast enough to meet climate targets. Planned capacity for capturing and storing CO2 underground is far below what is needed for 2030 and 2050 goals. Permitting delays, high costs, and lack of infrastructure investment are the main bottlenecks. Without sufficient storage, industrial sectors like cement and steel will struggle to decarbonize. Policymakers are under pressure to speed up project approvals and fund pipeline networks. The gap between announced plans and actual operational storage remains wide. For carbon markets, this shortfall could mean fewer verified credits from carbon capture projects. It also raises questions about how Europe will balance its net zero ambition with the reality of building out storage at scale.
