Diminishing greenhouse gas emissions is essential if using fossil sources of energy is to be harmonized with national and international climate protection goals. In the IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme (GHG), which has operated since 1991, ways of reducing such emissions where fossil sources of energy are used are developed and demonstrated.

Activities in this technology initiative include writing studies and factsheets in preparation for research, development and demonstration projects, and disseminating information. Current IEA research focuses include carbon capture and storage in power stations, storing carbon dioxide in geological formations , recycling carbon dioxide and modelling carbon dioxide storage in the ocean. Austria has participated in this collaboration since 2007.