The report has identified some of the potential benefits and trade-offs for the main air pollutants.

It also presents a life-cycle case study for 2050 considering three different scenarios, showing the potential impacts on emissions of air pollutants if CCS were widely implemented in Europe.

The case study also shows that the extraction and transport of additional coal can contribute significantly to the life-cycle emissions for coal-based CO2 capture technologies. 

EEA executive director Jacqueline McGlade said that CCS can bridge the gap for the next few decades, cutting emissions until we can shift to a low carbon economy.