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