Summary/Abstract
As atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations continue to rise, policymakers increasingly are turning to carbon dioxide removal (CDR) to help respond to climate change. CDR techniques, such as afforestation and soil carbon sequestration, remove carbon dioxide from the air and store it underground or in an inert form. One technique, direct air capture and storage (DACS), has attracted particular interest in recent years because of its potential to permanently store large quantities of carbon. Although DACS’ energy requirements and high costs have limited its deployment to date, planning and construction efforts have rapidly expanded in recent years, thanks to generous government support. DACS facilities are not always welcomed by local communities or environmental advocates, however, because of safety and environmental concerns. This Article evaluates the adequacy of public engagement with respect to overall CDR policies as well as the siting and operation of individual DACS facilities. Public engagement efforts so far have focused on individual DACS projects and have largely been absent from broader CDR policymaking. However, insufficient engagement on CDR policies not only undermines individual projects but also threatens long-term decarbonization efforts. Policy-level public engagement is needed to facilitate a just energy transition, determine suitable CDR pathways, and identify CDR locations and activities with public support. Furthermore, project-level community engagement can provide a social license for specific DACS projects and address concerns about land, energy, and water requirements, carbon dioxide leakage, and groundwater contamination.