Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is increasingly recognised as essential to achieving net zero, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors such as cement, steel, chemicals and LNG. This seminar will examine the role of CCS in Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region, where industrial emissions, energy demand growth and existing infrastructure make carbon management especially important. The presentation will outline why most credible climate pathways include large-scale CCS deployment, and how the technology is evolving alongside broader decarbonisation efforts. The seminar will also explore recent advances in CCS policy, deployment and technology development across Australia and the region, including new projects, carbon management hubs and cross-border collaboration. Alongside this progress, it will address the major barriers still limiting deployment — including policy uncertainty, investment and infrastructure challenges, and the need for stronger market incentives. The discussion will conclude with a practical assessment of what is needed to accelerate CCS deployment and strengthen Australia’s role as a regional leader in carbon management.
Join us in person for an opportunity to meet Dr. David Kearns and speak with him after the session.
Dr. David Kearns, Country Manager Australia and New Zealand, Global CCS Institute
David has over 25 years of experience across the energy, industrial and research sectors, including consulting, engineering design, research and plant operations. As a technical specialist in CO2 capture technologies, he has advised government, industrial and finance sector members and clients around the world on the technical, economic and strategic aspects of deploying CCS. He has authored multiple thought leadership publications on CCS technologies and published multiple research papers on pressure swing adsorption, a technology used in CO2 capture. David holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering, a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Chemical Engineering, a Bachelor of Commerce from Monash University. He is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Energy.
