Developing a Feasibility Assessment Framework for Carbon Dioxide Removal Through Integration of Engineering and Social Science Knowledge

Models of future climate scenarios under deep decarbonization indicate that carbon dioxide removal (CDR) approaches will likely be essential for meeting net-zero emission goals. The Inflation Reduction Act prioritizes investments in several CDR approaches such as direct air capture (DAC), and the Department of Energy has already announced funding for DAC hubs across the United States. While considerable work has been carried out on engineering process modeling for these demonstrations, CDR scalability requires improved understanding of public acceptance of such projects. The proposal aims to develop an integrative framework to gauge public acceptance of CDR, drawing on both engineering and social science literatures. This will entail a systematic review of the theories, methods, and indicators used in each field to enable researchers to identify testable hypotheses as well as new areas of research on public acceptance of CDR.

“Our project is focused on developing a framework to better understand how the public views carbon dioxide removal (CDR), which is essential for achieving net-zero emissions. We’re taking a comprehensive approach that will involve reviewing the theories, methods, and indicators used in different fields. By combining insights from both engineering and social sciences, we hope to provide a clearer picture that can guide the future deployment of CDR technologies.”

Udayan Singh, Argonne National Laboratory