Can carbon capture solve climate change?

Current capacity (49 Mt/year) captures less than 0.1% of annual emissions (36.8 Gt). It's useful for hard-to-decarbonize sectors but cannot substitute for emissions reduction.

Global Average Carbon Capture Capacity

Last updated: March 8, 2026

49 Mt/yr

Mtpa CO₂

Global carbon capture capacity is approximately 49 million tonnes of CO₂ per year across 40+ facilities. This represents less than 0.1% of annual emissions (36.8 Gt). The IPCC says we need 5-10 Gt/year of capture by 2050 to meet climate goals.

Why This Average Exists

Carbon capture is considered essential for reaching net-zero emissions, particularly for hard-to-decarbonize sectors like cement, steel, and aviation.

Factors That Affect Global Average Carbon Capture Capacity

Government incentives
Carbon pricing
Technology costs
Storage site availability
Energy penalty
Public acceptance

Frequently Asked Questions

Methodology & Data Sources

The data presented on this page is compiled from publicly available datasets published by international organizations including the World Bank, World Health Organization (WHO), International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations, NASA, and national statistical agencies.

Global averages are calculated using population-weighted or arithmetic means depending on the metric. Country-level data reflects the most recent available figures, typically from 2023–2024. Where gaps exist, the latest available data point is used.

All figures are subject to revision as source organizations update their datasets. For the most authoritative data, we encourage consulting the original sources linked in the table above.