By Invitation | Climate change

David Keith on why carbon removal won’t save big oil but may help the climate

Greens should cheer the blurring of the industry’s interests, says the academic

Image: Dan Williams

OCCIDENTAL, AN American oil major, recently agreed to buy Carbon Engineering, a Canadian carbon-removal company, for $1.6bn. The deal underlines big oil’s growing interest in carbon-capture technologies, which suck carbon dioxide from the air. What does it mean for the climate?

From the September 30th 2023 edition

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition

More from By Invitation

Reihan Salam

Trumpism is becoming more pragmatic, argues Reihan Salam

But not all of the incoming president’s backers buy it

Time is not on Russia’s side, argues Finland’s foreign minister

Elina Valtonen calls for a lower oil-price cap and tougher measures against Russia’s shadow fleet


Oriana Skylar Mastro makes a case for paring America’s nukes

The political scientist explains why beefing up is bad China strategy


A new Iranian approach to regional security and prosperity, by M. Javad Zarif

Iran’s vice-president on how his country can make the region more secure and prosperous

America’s debt cannot keep stacking up, says Jeffrey Gundlach

The “King of Bonds” sees the risk of a debt restructuring with global repercussions

South Korea’s crisis highlights both fragility and resilience, writes Wi Sung-lac

The country is deeply polarised, but its living memory of military rule strengthens its commitment to democracy