WWF has joined some of the world's leading environment proponents in calling for the rapid deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration plants. The conservation organisation says it must be determined as a matter of urgency whether the technology works or not, and whether it will play a role in the world's response to climate change.

"If we reach a three-degree rise in temperature, 35 per cent of species will become extinct. WWF has a responsibility to try to prevent this from happening, which means supporting a range of climate change solutions," said WWF-Australia CEO Greg Bourne.

"Rapid deployment of demonstration plants is necessary to determine whether CCS is practical for broad application, and if it doesn't work we need to know even sooner."

WWF's position is supported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, NASA scientist Dr James Hansen, environment groups such as the Climate Institute and PEW centre, pre-eminent research centres, and the vast majority of Governments.

"There is no single solution to climate change, the world must simultaneously become more energy efficiency, halt and reverse loss of forests, and replace traditional fossil fuels with zero and low emission technologies, including CCS," Mr Bourne said.

WWF's Climate Solutions report finds that if one or two of the zero or low emission technologies fail or are delayed, including CCS, the chance of beating the climate and energy challenge drops dramatically.

"If CCS works it can be applied not just to new and retrofitted coal power generation, but also gas power generation; to other large CO2 sources such as the chemical, steel or cement industries; and to natural gas production.

"The problem for CCS is that at the current rate of technology development it could take 15 to 20 years to contribute to the climate change solution, which would be too late for the planet," said Mr Bourne.

"This is precisely why WWF is calling for a national co-ordinated approach to accelerate CCS technology development, so it contributes to greenhouse gas reduction sooner."

WWF is also calling for a moratorium on new coal-fired power stations without CCS on commission, and for CCS demonstration funding to be levied from the industries known to contribute to greenhouse gas pollution.

"In addition to pursuing acceleration of CCS technology, WWF will continue to push for greater investment and regulation for energy efficiency, renewable energy and adaptation*," concluded Mr Bourne.