WASHINGTON, April 22, 2016 — Technological innovation will be critical in meeting the goal the world’s nations set out in the Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming.

The world derives 80 percent of its energy from coal, oil, and natural gas. Global use of fossil fuels is expected to continue for decades to come, even with the dramatic changes in energy production anticipated under the Paris Agreement. Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) technology can capture and safely store CO2 emissions from power plants and industrial facilities. In fact, the United Nations IPCC and International Energy Agency have concluded that CCUS is likely essential to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius.

More than 150 nations will sign the landmark Paris Agreement on climate in New York City today. As attention to how these countries will meet their pledges increases, it’s worth highlighting that CCUS projects are now operating or under construction in eight countries with several new plants on the way around the world. And countries as diverse as Canada, China, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Norway have specifically included CCUS technology in their intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) to the agreement. The United States has adopted an “all-of-the-above” strategy that includes CCUS.

The success of the Paris Agreement and individual national climate commitments depends on continued deployment of critical energy technologies like CCUS. On Earth Day and every day, CCUS technology advocates are proud to be playing a part in helping meet important climate commitments.

Bob Perciasepe, President, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions

Brad Crabtree, Vice President, Great Plains Institute

Kurt Waltzer, Managing Director, Clean Air Task Force?

Josh Freed, Vice President, Third Way

Download the pdf of the statement.