We find that the European Union's proposed directive on carbon-capture 'readiness', as reported in your News story 'Europe to capture carbon', is unacceptable (Nature 451, 232; 2008). It clears the way for a new generation of coal-fired power stations to be built in Europe without any abatement of emissions when they start operating, and without any certainty about when, or if, such technology will be available and affordable. (Correspondence)