Carbon capture and storage (CCS) experts’ attitudes to and experience with public engagement

Abstract

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is widely seen as a key technology for mitigating climate change. Public engagement with CCS is important for a range of reasons, but previous work has not explored the perceived rationales for, or benefits of, public engagement amongst CCS experts (including those who engage the public themselves). Here, we present mixed-methods research (comprising expert interviews and an online survey) to elucidate these rationales, and expose CCS expert views of public engagement. Our findings indicate some differences in perceptions of public engagement with CCS (and of the risks and benefits of CCS) between those who engage directly with the public and those who do not: the former tend to have a more nuanced view of engagement, and are also more enthusiastic about the benefits of CCS, than the latter. Overall, CCS experts recognise the importance of public engagement for the roll-out of CCS for both substantive and instrumental rationales, and are largely aware of the range of factors (knowledge, values, trust, etc.) influencing public engagement. Nevertheless, the relatively low salience of early and substantive engagement amongst CCS experts suggests there is room for improving the flow of learning from the public engagement research literature to those charged with delivering it.