Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) present an opportunity to reduce emissions from industrial supply chains by converting captured CO₂ into valuable carbon-based products such as fuels, chemicals and building materials. This report discusses the potential role that emerging CCU pathways could play in a sustainable industrial transition and focuses on the challenges faced by innovators and first movers.
Policies currently favour carbon capture and storage (CCS) over utilization. However, as momentum builds behind industrial decarbonization, CCU merits thorough, context-specific consideration. CCU offers the potential to "defossilize" carbon-reliant industries – but for it to become viable, it requires supportive policy frameworks, patient capital and close collaboration across stakeholder groups.
The report analyses three specific barriers to progress: fragmented and inconsistent policy frameworks that heavily favour sequestration over utilization; the “valleys of death” that emerging CCU companies face, impacted by long development timelines, high capital requirements and immature business models that lack well-defined routes to revenue; and the role of cross-sectoral collaboration in scaling-up nascent CCU technologies within large, mature industrial complexes.

Climate change is impacting human health, with rising economic costs to industry, governments and communities. This report shows how businesses can protect their workforces, operations and growth, making human health a pillar of resilience.

The Chief People Officers Outlook explores how leaders are building resilient, inclusive and tech-enabled workforces through culture, AI and agile design.

The World Economic Forum’s Annual Report outlines the key developments in 2024-2025. It provides an overview of the Forum’s centres and initiatives, progress from coalitions and key reports, and takeaways from select meetings, as well as the latest progress from the Forum’s core functions and operations.

This report by Securing Minerals for the Energy Transition (SMET) initiative, the Development Bank of Southern Africa and McKinsey & Company identifies financing barriers and practical solutions to scale critical minerals value chains in Southern Africa

The Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2025 report highlights 10 innovations with the potential to reshape industries and societies.

The Quantum Technologies: Key Strategies and Opportunities for Financial Services white paper assess the current state of quantum applications in financial services.