The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that meeting current climate goals will require approximately 7–9 gigatonnes (Gt) CO₂ removal will be required each year by 2050. Only ~2 gigatonnes removal per year is happening currently, placing unprecedented pressure on technologies capable of delivering emissions reductions at scale. Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) is recognised as an essential pathway for decarbonising heavy industries. But progress remains slow. High capital costs, uncertain policies, long-term storage liabilities and the absence of shared carbon dioxide transport and storage infrastructure continue to constrain deployment. Can CCUS realistically deliver the scale and permanence required for climate goals? How companies prevent CCUS from becoming a distraction from direct emissions reductions in industrial processes? How can policy ensure CCUS complements, rather than substitutes for, real decarbonisation?