Can Asia-Pacific build a cross-border carbon capture system—and make it actually work?
In this episode of Green Shift, host David Austin and co-host James Balzer sit down with Kevin Pang (SVP at FutureScaleX) to unpack one of the most complex—and potentially transformative—climate solutions: Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).
From Japan’s push to export CO₂, to Southeast Asia’s vast storage potential, this conversation explores the real-world challenges of turning CCS into a regional, scalable system.
🎯 Key Topics Covered:
What CCS actually is (pre-combustion, post-combustion, oxy-fuel explained simply)
Why transport—not storage—is the biggest bottleneck in Asia-Pacific
The geopolitics of cross-border CO₂ (Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia)
The economics: can CCS ever be commercially viable?
Carbon credits vs real costs—where’s the tipping point?
The role of state-owned enterprises and government incentives
Why ASEAN’s geography (ports + industry clusters) is a hidden advantage
The governance challenge: tracking CO₂ across borders (MRV systems)
CCS as a transition solution, not a permanent fix
And the big idea: could CO₂ become a valuable resource instead of waste?
💡 Standout Insight:
If CO₂ can be converted into products like ethylene, it could unlock real market demand—turning climate policy into economic opportunity.
🌱 Why This Matters:
Asia-Pacific is at the center of global growth—and emissions. Getting CCS right here could define whether the region can balance development with decarbonisation.
🔗 Related Episodes:
Check out our previous deep dive on CCS governance https://youtu.be/uH5R-8oSOW8?si=rbGnpAgd1p6O3KWz
🔗Download James' policy brief, \"Diagnosing Governance Dysfunctions
of CCS in Indonesia\" https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/ca134fed-3c95-42d1-bf19-decdd72df6d1/CSER_PB08_Diagnosing%20Governance%20Dysfunctions%20o.pdf
👍 Like, subscribe, and follow Green Shift for more conversations on the transition to a sustainable economy—through an Asia-focused lens.
#CarbonCapture #CCS #Sustainability #EnergyTransition #AsiaPacific #ClimateTech #Decarbonisation
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