Burning coal to generate electricity causes significant carbon dioxide emissions. And yet, rising global energy demands and coal’s economic cheapness means coal is likely to remain a source of global energy for some time.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) can help minimise the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere. This new technology works by capturing the CO2 released during fossil fuel combustion, and storing it safely underground. CCS can reduce emissions per unit of electricity by 85 - 90% (DEFRA). 

The UK Coal Campaign

If coal is to be part of the world’s energy future, then CCS must be too.

The transition to new technologies like CCS is urgent, and we want to nurture confidence in them. Our Coal Campaign is generating rapid, ambitious action around the technology and financing of CCS, and involving participation of global partners. We are currently stimulating the first wave of commercial-scale CCS, which includes:

• Launching commercial CCS demonstrations across the European Union by 2010, so they are operational by 2015, and then expanding to global deployment of CCS technologies from 2020. 
• Accelerating the move towards Carbon Capture Ready plants – those which can use the technology once it is fully developed - in China, India and South Africa.
• Stimulating the human and institutional capacity required to deliver CCS in developing countries.
• Amplifying CCS experiences with partners such as Australia, Japan, Canada, Norway and the Gulf States.