Public perceptions on carbon removal from focus groups in 22 countries.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Climate Policy
• Societal Impact

Background:

• Carbon removal is crucial for Net Zero targets.
• Five major carbon removal types are under scrutiny: forests, soils, direct air capture (DAC), enhanced weathering, and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS).

Purpose of the Study:

• To map public perceptions of technical and societal issues related to major carbon removal types.
• To identify public preferences for governance actors, mechanisms, and rationales.
• To assess the alignment between public perceptions and current carbon removal assessment, innovation, and decision-making.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 44 focus groups conducted in 22 countries.
• Inclusion of a representative sample of global publics.
• Mapping of technical and societal issues and governance preferences.

Main Results:

• Publics raise diverse technical and societal concerns across different carbon removal methods.
• Publics express clear preferences for governance actors, mechanisms, and rationales.
• Gaps and overlaps exist between public perceptions and current carbon removal practices.
• Societal expectations include prioritizing public engagement, industry scrutiny, systemic coordination, and addressing root causes of climate change.

Conclusions:

• Public engagement should extend beyond mere acceptance research.
• Industry regulation and scrutiny are vital, complementing innovation incentives.
• Systemic coordination across sectors, levels, and borders is necessary for effective carbon removal governance.
• Addressing the underlying causes of climate change and interrelated governance issues must be prioritized.