Carbon Capture and Storage Ladder – 2026 update

The real debate on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is not “yes or no”, but where it adds genuine and durable climate value. In partnership with Bellona, E3G has updated the CCS Ladder – first published in 2023 – to provide a structured, evidence-based tool for decision makers.

This 2026 edition deepens the analysis, incorporates new stakeholder feedback, and reflects evolving decarbonisation realities, including the scaling of alternatives like electrification, circularity, and efficiency.

The Ladder assesses CCS applications across key industrial sectors, evaluating their climate value for 2030 and 2050 based on three core criteria:

• competition from alternatives
• mitigation potential
• feasibility.

It highlights where CCS is indispensable, where it plays a transitional role, and where its relevance declines as other solutions outperform it.