Australia’s long-touted carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiatives, once promoted as pivotal to limiting greenhouse gas emissions, are increasingly under scrutiny as performance shortfalls and expert criticism raise questions about their effectiveness and broader role in climate policy.

Central to the debate is Chevron’s Gorgon CCS project on Barrow Island, Western Australia, which was designed to sequester up to four million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually and cut emissions from the associated liquefied natural gas facility by forty per cent.

Nearly a decade after its inception, however, injection rates have fallen significantly, recording just 1.33 million tonnes in the 2024-25 financial year and declining year-on-year as operators manage reservoir pressure issues.

Chevron has maintained that work to optimise pressure management will allow safer and increased injection over time, but data show the project is capturing a fraction of what was initially envisaged.

The disappointing outcomes at Gorgon have crystallised a broader controversy over carbon capture’s place in Australia’s climate efforts, even as federal authorities grant support to new developments such as Santos’ Moomba CCS and the proposed Bonaparte offshore project, which has secured major project status and could capture up to ten million tonnes of CO₂ annually.

Government rhetoric continues to describe CCS as “part of the solution” to achieving emission reduction goals alongside renewable deployment, reflecting policy frameworks that include carbon management technologies as key components of meeting legislated targets.

Nevertheless, critics argue that CCS remains marginal at best, pointing out that even successful projects capture only a small proportion of overall emissions and that under present global conditions CCS accounts for a minuscule percentage of annual greenhouse gas abatement.

They warn that reliance on the technology, especially in contexts tied to fossil fuel expansion, can foster greenwashing — creating the impression of meaningful climate action while delaying deeper decarbonisation measures.

These concerns parallel broader policy debates over the adequacy of Australia’s emissions reduction strategies, from safeguard mechanisms to renewable targets, and the degree to which investments should prioritise scalable clean energy solutions.

Research and advisory bodies also highlight that expanding carbon dioxide removal and sequestration will be necessary to reach net-zero emissions by mid-century, stressing that CCS must be deployed alongside rapid emissions cuts and other removal approaches such as direct air capture and nature-based solutions.

As Australia navigates its legislated climate commitments and international expectations, the performance of flagship carbon capture projects and the balance of policy support will remain focal points in assessments of the nation’s climate strategy and its environmental credibility.