George Monbiot argues that the UK's carbon capture and storage (CCS) program is a costly distraction that will increase emissions rather than cut them. He cites analysis suggesting the full program could cost 264 billion pounds by 2050, with most of that falling on households through energy bill levies. Monbiot claims the majority of CCS projects are tied to new fossil fuel power stations and hydrogen production from gas, not hard to abate industrial sectors like cement. Monbiot points to cheaper alternatives like renewables paired with battery storage and electrolysis for hydrogen. He says the program is driven by fossil fuel lobbying and will lock in higher gas use and LNG imports, which have higher lifecycle emissions than coal. The piece calls on the new prime minister to cancel the program and redirect funds to proven low carbon technologies.
