Climate Change: Carbon Capture and Storage

Climate Change: Carbon Capture and Storage, offered by the University of Edinburgh through edX, is a beginner-level online course designed to explain the role of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in climate change mitigation. The course examines how carbon dioxide can be captured before entering the atmosphere and stored safely underground, while placing CCS within the wider context of energy systems, the Paris Agreement, and the need for deep emissions reductions.

Core Content

The curriculum explores the science, engineering, geology, policy, and economics of CCS. Learners examine how carbon dioxide is separated from industrial and energy processes, transported, injected into geological formations, and monitored over time. The course also considers carbon-negative approaches, the role of CCS alongside fossil fuels and other energy sources, and the conditions needed for large-scale deployment as part of wider climate mitigation strategies.

Key Skills

Participants will develop the ability to explain how CCS works, assess its potential contribution to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, and understand the technical and geological requirements for permanent underground storage. The course also strengthens understanding of carbon capture technologies, geological storage, climate mitigation, energy systems, environmental policy, and the economic and regulatory factors that influence CCS deployment.

Target Learners

This course is designed for students, professionals, policymakers, and general learners with an interest in energy, sustainability, climate change, or carbon management. It is particularly relevant for those seeking an accessible introduction to CCS without requiring an engineering or geoscience background. edX classifies the course as beginner level, making it suitable for a broad audience.

Learning Format

Hosted on edX, the course is delivered in a flexible self-paced online format over five weeks, with an expected study commitment of approximately two to three hours per week. The University of Edinburgh lists the course as free to study and available to start at any time. Learning is delivered through structured online content developed by specialists in carbon capture, engineering, and geological storage, with an optional verified certificate available through edX.

Additional Benefits

The course is taught by researchers and academics with extensive experience in carbon capture and geological storage and was developed through collaboration between the University of Edinburgh and the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. Its multidisciplinary approach helps learners understand CCS not as a standalone technology, but as part of the broader technical, policy, and economic response to climate change.

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