Plans for a 19,000km transport network across the continent rely on weakening environmental safeguards and streamlining permitting processes. Critics argue that these measures—including the creation of industrial acceleration zones—could bypass protections for natural habitats and expose local communities to significant risks. A 2020 pipeline rupture in Mississippi, which hospitalized 45 people, serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with transporting pressurized greenhouse gases.
The EU’s high-stakes gamble on carbon capture
The European Commission is preparing to legislate a massive expansion of carbon capture and storage infrastructure, despite a decade of project cancellations and industry retreat. While Brussels aims for 50 million tonnes of annual CO2 injection capacity by 2030, the strategy faces criticism for prioritizing corporate interests over public safety.
Despite the push, the financial outlook for the technology remains bleak. Project announcements peaked in 2021 and have steadily declined, with 2025 cancellations outpacing final investment decisions. Historically, 88 percent of planned capacity has failed to materialize, and the International Energy Agency has repeatedly downgraded the sector's potential. Rather than curbing emissions, much of the existing global capacity has been used to facilitate further oil extraction. With wind and solar power now outperforming fossil fuels in the EU electricity mix, the shift toward CCS appears to be a costly redirection of resources away from proven, sustainable alternatives.
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