Global CO2 Storage Reaches 43.6 Million Metric Tons
Annual sequestration doubled since 2016, though significant growth is required to meet 2050 climate targets.
Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Environmental
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The London Register of Subsurface CO₂ Storage documented 43.6 million metric tons of sequestered carbon in 2024, marking a doubling of annual capacity since 2016. This report summarizes performance across 70 active global projects.
Why it matters
Scaling geological carbon storage is essential for meeting climate mitigation targets, with current projections requiring a 23-fold increase in annual sequestration to hit 1 billion metric tons by 2050.
The 2024 total of 43.6 million metric tons contributes to a 421.7 million metric ton cumulative record over three decades. Notably, 82.3 percent of this cumulative volume is categorized as storage associated with enhanced oil recovery operations.
The players
London Register of Subsurface CO₂ Storage
An international consortium that monitors operational carbon capture sites and maintains global sequestration statistics.
Petrobras
A Brazilian state-controlled energy firm operating the Santos Basin Pre-Salt Oil Field, which alone sequestered 14.2 million metric tons in 2024.
Northern Lights
A Norwegian infrastructure project designed to transport and inject industrial CO₂ into subsea geological reservoirs.
The details
Geological sequestration works by capturing carbon dioxide from industrial exhaust, power plants, or the atmosphere and injecting it into permeable rock formations deep underground. The London Register tracks these inputs across 70 sites in 17 countries, including projects like the Northern Lights facility in Norway. Most current efforts utilize the CO₂ to assist in extracting additional hydrocarbons from existing oil fields before permanent storage.
Timeline
Annual storage reached 21.0 million metric tons in 2016.
Cumulative storage was revised to 342.0 million metric tons through 2023.
The Register recorded 43.6 million metric tons of storage in 2024.
Norway's Northern Lights project began CO₂ injection in August 2025.
Global storage is projected to reach 1 billion metric tons annually by 2050.
The Tech Race
While global sequestration has doubled since 2016, the reliance on oil recovery-linked storage presents a hurdle for pure-play climate objectives. The industry is now racing to shift toward direct atmospheric removal as the primary driver for meeting the 2050 target.
This sector is currently dominated by large-scale industrial players and energy firms in countries like Brazil and the United States. For most, the technology remains an institutional-scale infrastructure solution rather than a consumer-facing application.
The takeaway
The trajectory of carbon sequestration hinges on transitioning from oil-linked recovery to dedicated permanent storage. Observers should monitor the 2050 milestone of 1 billion metric tons annually to determine if geological storage can meet its scaling requirements.
Further reading
Explore more on the current state of carbon management in our Environmental section.
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