At the 2025 World Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (WCCUS) Conference, Professor Philip Ringrose (NTNU/NTVA) shared an honest assessment of the global carbon capture effort — and the verdict was cautiously optimistic.

Ringrose noted that global emissions may finally begin to decline in 2026, with China’s clean-energy expansion marking a turning point. While natural systems still absorb about half of human CO₂ emissions, they can’t keep pace — making carbon capture and storage (CCS) essential for achieving climate goals.

Europe remains a leader: by 2024, the EU’s emissions were 37% lower than in 1990, and the UK had achieved a 54% cut, largely through its energy transition. Globally, around 50 million tonnes of CO₂ are now captured each year, with similar capacity under construction.

Ringrose highlighted Norway’s milestone Longship and Northern Lights projects, which began full CO₂ transport and storage operations in mid-2025 — proof that large-scale CCS is no longer theoretical.

His closing message: progress is real, but financial and policy support must accelerate.

“The CCS outlook is cloudy — but with a chance of reaching our climate goals.”

🔗 Download the full presentation here: WCCUS 2025_01_Keynote_Ringrose