Mesoporous carbons (with up to 95% of pore volume from mesopores) with surface area and pore volume of ∼4000 m2 g−1 and ∼3.6 cm3 g−1, respectively, are excellent CO2 absorbers under pre combustion conditions and can store 55 mmol g−1 (i.e., 2.42 g g−1) or 930 g l−1 at 25 °C and 50 bar.