In a groundbreaking revelation, it has been reported that at least 475 lobbyists advocating for carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies have been granted attendance at COP28, the UN climate conference. This marks the first attempt to monitor the increasing influence of the CCS subset of the fossil fuel industry within the climate talks. The figures were calculated by the Centre for Environmental Law (Ciel) and shared exclusively with The Guardian.

CCS, also known as CCUS (which includes "utilisation"), is being heavily promoted at the summit by fossil fuel and high-pollution industries, as well as major greenhouse gas-emitting countries. Proponents of CCS claim that these technologies will allow polluters to capture and store carbon dioxide emissions underground or use them in the production of fuels or fertilizers.

However, climate scientists, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), argue that phasing out oil, gas, and coal is the only effective method to combat global heating and limit temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. They view CCUS and other unproven niche technologies as delaying tactics that offer limited contributions at best.

Lili Fuhr, the director of Ciel's fossil economy program, expressed concern over the forceful lobbying efforts by the fossil fuel industry. Fuhr stated that CCS is being used as a lifeline and an excuse to delay action on climate change. She emphasized the importance of not allowing carbon capture lobbyists to create loopholes in the energy package at COP28.

The influence of the oil and gas industry at COP28 is unprecedented, with a staggering 2,456 industry-affiliated lobbyists being registered, nearly four times higher than the previous year's conference. The conference, being run by the president of the United Arab Emirates' national oil company, highlights the pivotal role of fossil fuel phase-out in the negotiations over the global stocktake.

Major fossil fuel producers, including the US, Canada, Norway, the European Union, and Saudi Arabia, are facing accusations of attempting to block an unequivocal agreement on a phase-out by advocating for "abated" fossil fuels instead. However, there is no consensus on the definition of "abated," with general understanding referring to the capture and permanent storage of an undefined proportion of greenhouse gases emitted.

CCUS has been a focal point of high-level meetings and numerous side events at COP28. Recently, several countries, including the UAE, Australia, Canada, Egypt, the EU, US, Japan, and Denmark, launched the "carbon management challenge," announcing government support for CCUS and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies.

While these technologies may have benefits in hard-to-decarbonize sectors like cement and steel, capturing 1.2 gigatonnes of CO2, which was initially proposed by the challenge, represents only 3% of the global emissions projected for 2022.

CCUS projects have a history of over-promising and under-delivering. For instance, Chevron's Gorgon gas facility in Western Australia, the world's largest industrial CCUS project, missed its carbon capture targets by about 50% in its first five years of operation. Earlier this year, it was revealed that emissions at the facility have actually increased by 50%.

Critics argue that CCUS and other abatement technologies fail to address the air pollution linked to extracting and burning fossil fuels, causing approximately 5 million annual deaths worldwide.

Internal industry documents released during the investigation into climate disinformation in 2021 reveal that oil executives are aware of the limitations of CCUS but view it as a potential lifeline for fossil fuels.

The presence of such a significant number of CCS lobbyists at COP28 has raised concerns among climate justice advocates. Blessed Chidhoni from the Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice, who has experienced firsthand the impacts of climate change, criticized the lobbyists for pushing dangerous distractions and hindering efforts for a fast and fair fossil fuel phase-out.

As the summit continues, the discussions around carbon capture technologies remain a contentious issue. The spokesperson for the Carbon Capture and Storage Association stated that carbon capture technology will be an essential part of the overall strategy to achieve net-zero emissions, alongside energy reduction and the expansion of renewable electricity.

The influence of carbon capture lobbyists and the debates surrounding its efficacy and limitations will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the outcomes of COP28 and the global fight against climate change.