A growing reliance on carbon capture and storage (CCS) across Asia could backfire, potentially adding nearly 25 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, according to a new report by Climate Analytics released on October 6, 2025. The study warns that while CCS aims to reduce fossil fuel emissions by capturing carbon dioxide from power plants and industrial facilities and storing it underground, its widespread deployment could undermine the Paris Agreement and expose economies to financial and environmental risks.
The report assessed current and prospective CCS efforts across key Asian economies including China, India, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia, which together account for more than half of global fossil fuel use and emissions. It found that many of these countries, led by India and other developing nations in South and Southeast Asia, show no immediate signs of peaking emissions, making timely action crucial.
China and India, Asia largest emitters, remain largely disconnected from the CCS network emerging in Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, and Australia. China already has the continent’s second-largest CCS pipeline, while India has little notable presence. However, the study highlighted that India’s steel and cement sectors already major sources of industrial emissions could increasingly turn to CCS. The report cautioned that cheaper and less risky alternatives such as renewable energy, electrification, and green hydrogen already exist and could effectively reduce emissions in these sectors.
“Leading regional emitters China and India have less clear CCS plans. China already has a strong CCS presence but is also advanced in deploying zero-emission technologies. If China or India increasingly depend on CCS, it could have disastrous climate consequences,” the report said.
The report also noted that global CCS projects have historically underperformed, with capture rates closer to 50% rather than the 90-95% often claimed. Deploying CCS in the power sector could make electricity at least twice as expensive as renewable energy backed by storage. Japan and South Korea have been the most supportive of CCS through policy and financial incentives, while Australia and Southeast Asian countries are positioning themselves as carbon storage hubs. China has recently begun supporting new projects under its 2023 Plan for Green and Low-Carbon Technology Demonstration.
James Bowen, lead author of the report, warned: “There is a strong possibility that Asian countries could increase CCS support through 2050, risking significant lock-in of unabated fossil fuels and stranded asset costs, while threatening global efforts to meet the Paris Agreement 1.5°C warming limit.” Climate Analytics CEO Bill Hare added, “Asia is at a crossroads. Many CCS policies are designed to protect fossil fuel industries, especially in Japan, South Korea, and Australia. This is a very risky strategy for both the climate and the economies themselves.”
The report concludes that a deliberate low-CCS pathway prioritising renewable energy expansion, electrification, and efficiency would be a more cost-effective and climate-aligned strategy for Asia, helping the region avoid locking in high emissions while supporting sustainable economic growth.
This warning comes as India prepares to submit updated carbon-reduction targets ahead of COP30 on November 10 with decisions in the coming years likely to shape Asia’s climate trajectory for decades.