"US Carbon Capture Plan: A Fig Leaf for Fossil Fuel Industry Protection, Experts Warn"

The US energy department has allocated up to $1.2 billion to two projects aimed at directly removing carbon dioxide from the air, a technology known as direct air capture. While some experts believe this investment is necessary to combat climate change, others fear it is a "fig leaf" used by the fossil fuel industry to distract from efforts to phase out fossil fuels. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has emphasized the need for carbon capture to remove greenhouse gases, but warned that it is not a substitute for reducing emissions. Critics argue that the funds would be better spent on immediate climate solutions such as energy efficiency and reducing emissions from various sectors. The Biden administration's commitment to climate action has been questioned due to its support for oil and gas drilling projects.