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**The Hindu: Science and Technology**

**September 04, 2025**

## Geological Carbon Storage Overestimated: New Study Calls for Urgent Emission Cuts

**New Delhi:** A groundbreaking study published in *Nature* is challenging the long-held belief that underground carbon storage is a virtually limitless solution to combat climate change. Researchers are warning that the Earth’s safe capacity for geological carbon storage is significantly lower than previously estimated, potentially derailing climate strategies that rely too heavily on this technology.

The study, conducted by an international team, places the global limit for safe underground CO2 storage at approximately 1,460 billion tonnes – a mere fraction of the previously estimated 11,800 billion tonnes. This stark revision stems from a rigorous mapping and risk assessment of sedimentary basins worldwide, factoring in geological constraints, earthquake zones, biodiversity hotspots, and practical limitations like storage depth.

“Many climate models assume vast amounts of CO2 will be stored underground to achieve the 2°C warming target,” explains lead author [hypothetical name: Dr. Anya Sharma], a geologist with the European Climate Research Institute. “Our findings reveal a critical constraint: we can’t simply keep pumping CO2 underground indefinitely. We need a far more realistic and diversified approach.”

The study’s implications are far-reaching. It necessitates a fundamental reassessment of climate strategies, particularly for countries like Russia, the US, and Saudi Arabia, which possess a larger share of the limited storage capacity. For nations like India and many in Europe, with less geological storage potential, the urgency to reduce emissions becomes even more paramount.

The research also highlights a critical debate: how should this limited carbon storage resource be utilized? Should it be used to prolong the use of fossil fuels, or reserved for removing existing carbon from the atmosphere for the benefit of future generations?

Furthermore, the study underscores that carbon storage alone cannot solve the climate crisis. The maximum temperature reversal achievable through this method is estimated at only 0.7°C. The researchers emphasize that significant and rapid emission cuts, through the transition to renewable energy, industrial changes, and the conservation of natural carbon sinks, remain the most viable path forward.

“This study is a wake-up call,” says [hypothetical name: Mr. Raj Patel], an environmental policy analyst based in New Delhi. “It forces us to confront the limitations of geoengineering solutions and prioritize emission reduction as the primary strategy. India, in particular, needs to accelerate its renewable energy transition and invest in sustainable development practices.”

While acknowledging the limitations of scaling up carbon capture and storage technology, Nature clarified through a press note that, this analysis does not account for any other technologies that might be developed in the future.

The findings are expected to fuel intense discussions among policymakers at upcoming international climate summits, demanding a more nuanced and realistic approach to achieving global climate goals.

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