Introduction

"Everyone can describe it; some believe in it, but most have yet to be persuaded that it actually exists." With this tongue-in-cheek description of carbon capture and storage (CCS) from Private Eye in 2023, Marc Hudson opens his ambitious project. Rather than focusing on whether CCS works technically, Carbon Capture and Storage in the United Kingdom: History, Policies and Politics explores why CCS remains a recurring theme in British climate politics.

Initially, I questioned why Hudson would dedicate an entire book to a technology often labelled a "failure." However, Hudson shows that this inquiry is essential. The story of CCS in the UK extends beyond technical infrastructure to encompass broader political struggles over climate governance, industrial futures, and the appeal of technological solutions.

"Carbon Capture and Storage in the United Kingdom History, Policies and Politics" by Marc Hudson. ISBN 9781032609119 (also paperback, e-book); 132 Pages 11 B/W Illustrations; Published by Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Carbon-Capture-and-Storage-in-the-United-Kingdom-History-Policies-and-Politics/Hudson/p/book/9781032609126