#China #Beijing #Climate Change #Sinopec #CCUS Innovation

ICTO Inauguration in Beijing

On July 11, 2025, Beijing served as the host city for the foundational assembly of the International Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage Organization (ICTO). This significant event gathered 50 prominent leaders from around the globe, emphasizing their collective commitment to promoting innovations in CCUS technology. The initiative, spearheaded by the China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) in collaboration with the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), is aimed at fostering a culture of technological innovation and collaborative efforts to combat climate change.

Goals and Structure of ICTO

With the motto "Innovating For Carbon Pathway, Sharing The Future", the ICTO stands as a beacon for global collaboration, bringing together influential companies, industry associations, research institutions, and esteemed scientists. The central aim is to create a worldwide platform that encourages the sharing of ideas and strategies for advancing CCUS technologies and building a united front in the battle against climate change. At the inaugural conference, the organization's charter was officially ratified, promoting a framework for international cooperation in the CCUS sector.

During this milestone meeting, representatives from 90 organizations across 12 countries and four continents were present. The assembly marked the election of the first leadership group, which included a Director, Deputy Director, and Secretary-General. In a notable appointment, Ma Yongsheng, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Chairman of Sinopec, was elected as the Director of the inaugural leadership team.

Quotes and Commitments

"The establishment of the ICTO not only reflects the steadfast commitment of the global community to combat climate change but also represents a collective declaration for concrete action," stated Ma Yongsheng. He emphasized the organization's focus on active listening to all stakeholders and fostering substantial dialogue and collaboration. The goal is to pave the way for mutual success, positioning CCUS as a genuine catalyst for global carbon neutrality.

The Need for CCUS

Addressing climate change and achieving net-zero carbon emissions has become a global consensus, with 151 nations setting significant climate goals such as carbon neutrality. CCUS is recognized for its considerable potential to reduce emissions on a large scale, contributing to approximately 15% of the cumulative emission reductions needed to meet these carbon neutrality targets. Nevertheless, for these ambitious objectives to be realized, the capacity of CCUS projects must be expanded over a hundredfold by 2050.

Sinopec has long been at the forefront of China's CCUS industry, launching the country's very first project in the Shengli oil field back in 2012. Since then, it has integrated CO₂ resources across its operations and launched China's first megaton-scale CCUS project in 2022. Furthermore, in 2023, they completed the nation's first long-distance CO₂ pipeline, solidifying their leadership role in this vital sector.

The ICTO's formation is poised to usher in a new era of cooperation and innovation in the field of carbon capture and storage, reinforcing the urgent need for collective action against climate change through advanced technological solutions. As the world confronts the pressing challenge of climate change, the ICTO aims to be a driving force in mobilizing efforts and resources toward achieving global climate goals, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.