The UK has the most considerable potential for carbon storage in the world. Today, the vast aquifers under the North Sea seem to signal the UK's ambition to lead another energy revolution in the context of carbon neutrality. The British government estimates that 78 billion tons of carbon dioxide could be safely stored in the British territorial waters. In terms of annual emissions in 2020, 78 billion tons would be equivalent to 200 years of UK emissions. With such an opportunity, international oil giants are once again flocking to the North Sea.

Investing in the North Sea CCUS project is a relatively prudent solution when the energy transition is under enormous pressure. It is essential to be wary that at the crossroads of the energy transition, developed countries, led by the UK, will use technologies such as CCUS, which are supposed to benefit humanity, as a tool to impose "carbon protection fees" on developing countries. The UK and other developed countries should be wary of using technologies that are supposed to benefit humanity, such as CCUS, as a tool to impose "greenmail" on developing countries.

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Section of Global Development Strategy.