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CCS Is A Costly Distraction1That Cannot Save The Climate“CCS is the only proven set of technology that will allow us to cut carbonpollution while still using coal.”-Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) 7CCS is a tempting solution for decisionmakers whoprioritize the next election over leadership. CCS allowspoliticians to call for action on climate in a waythat doesn’t upset their fossil fuel campaign donors.It is neither electric utilities nor coal producers whogive life to the idea that CCS is a climate solution.A 2012 study found that “the discourse is not reallyabout CCS but politics in the form of narratives onpromises, alliances and emotions caused by politicalactions.” 8 Few country’s elected leaders havepushed CCS as much as in the US, the countryresponsible for the most climate pollution already inthe atmosphere. 9 And they have been egged on bytechno-optimistic, fossil fuel-friendly analysis comingfrom places like the International Energy Agency andGlobal CCS Institute.“In fact, the president is trying tocreate a future for coal.”-Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) 10CCS as Climate SolutionCCS proponents claim that carbon capture-enabledcoal plants would provide “the greatest reductionsin future US electric sector CO2 emissions” andhighlight the urgency with which CCS must be appliedin order to achieve these benefits. 11 One reportwent so far as to assert that applying CCS to allcoal plants would result in greater GHG reductionsthan implementing renewables across half the U.S.electric grid. 12The International Energy Agency (IEA) has describedCCS as “a necessity for a world hooked on fossilfuel.” IEA estimated that CCS could achieve as muchas 20% of the cumulative CO2 reductions needed by2050 to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, 13although later lowered its estimate to 14%. 14The International Energy Agency (IEA) is right toincreasingly focus on renewable energy over fossilfuels, a dynamic reinforced as solar and winddevelopment soars and communities work energeticallyto divest from coal, oil and gas. 15Page 5