The UK is set to spend £50 billion on Carbon Capture and Storage technology to meet its carbon budget, but a new poll reveals an overwhelming public preference for renewables and home insulation
Despite a YouGov poll showing that only 7 per cent of the public views Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) as a priority for tackling climate change, the UK government is set to spend over £50 billion subsidising the technology. This comes just weeks before ministers must present a revised, lawful climate plan after their previous strategy was ruled ‘irrational’ by the High Court. The new plan is due by 29 October 2025.
The findings of the poll highlight a significant disconnect between public opinion and government policy. While CCS is often criticised as being unproven, expensive, and high-risk, ministers are pushing forward with the technology. The plan places the burden of 75 per cent of the cost – hundreds of millions of pounds – on consumers through environmental levies.
Want to know more? Check out our related reads:
The YouGov poll reveals that the public’s top priorities for climate action are:
- Renewable Energy 38%
- Resource Efficiency and Waste Reduction 24%
- Nature Restoration and Protection 23%
- Energy Efficiency Improvements (e.g., home insulation) 20%
- Resilience and Adaptation (e.g., flood defences) 18%
- Public Transport 17%
Kyle Lischak, UK head of environmental law charity ClientEarth, says that investment in climate solutions such as home insulation, community renewables and public transport offer tangible benefits to the public, including reduced energy bills and warmer homes. In contrast, the government’s flagship CCS projects only account for 8 per cent of the UK’s 2050 CCS target, raising questions about the technology’s effectiveness at a massive scale. ‘There is certainly space for innovation in the climate fight but focusing substantial investment on high-risk technologies like CCS and hydrogen is an expensive gamble that could delay our journey to net zero and compound the cost-of-living crisis.’
What is Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)?
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a set of technologies designed to prevent large-scale emissions of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. This technology is seen as crucial for ‘hard-to-abate’ sectors that cannot easily switch to renewable energy, such as steel, cement, and chemical manufacturing.
While some CCS projects are operational globally, the UK does not yet have any large-scale, operational CCS plants. The government’s strategy focuses on developing industrial clusters to share infrastructure and reduce costs. The first two ‘Track-1’ clusters, HyNet in the Northwest of England and East Coast Cluster in Teesside and Humberside, are currently in development. The current strategy aims to establish four clusters by 2030, with the goal of capturing and storing a significant portion of the country’s CO2 emissions. However, the National Audit Office has stated that the initial target of capturing 20-30 million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2030 is no longer achievable, and a revised target has yet to be set.
Third attempt for a lawful climate plan
The UK government’s most recent climate plan, the Carbon Budget Delivery Plan, was ruled unlawful by the High Court on 3 May 2024. The court found the plan was based on ‘irrational’ assumptions and lacked sufficient evidence to prove its targets could be met. This was the second time the court had found a UK climate strategy to be in breach of the Climate Change Act.
The legal challenge was brought by environmental groups ClientEarth, Friends of the Earth, and The Good Law Project. The ruling mandates that the government must now produce a revised and credible climate plan by the end of October – a plan that must realistically put the UK on track to meet its binding carbon targets.
