Risky Carbon Capture Project at Heart of Canada-Alberta Pipeline Deal
In November 2025, the Canadian government and Alberta signed a Memorandum of Understanding to build a one-million-barrel-per-day oil pipeline from Alberta to Asia.
The agreement includes a requirement for the simultaneous construction and financing of the Pathways project, which would be the world's largest carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) project.
Pathways is an ambitious undertaking that aims to make Alberta oil among the lowest-carbon-intensity produced barrels in the world. However, experts warn that this technology has a history of underperforming and posing significant risks to human health and the environment.
A study analyzing 16 carbon-capture projects around the world found that even the most effective facilities captured only 78% of the claimed amount of carbon dioxide emissions. The average capture rate was a mere 47.6%.
The study also highlighted concerns about environmental, health, and safety risks associated with CCUS at scale, including increased seismic activity, ground and surface water contamination, soil contamination, and leakage of carbon dioxide.
With the Pathways project moving forward, Canadians should be cautious and monitor its development closely. The evidence from prior use of CCUS suggests that these technologies have significant limitations and risks.