CO 2 Chem Meeting 21 st September, 2012 . Dr Chris Jones UNDERSTANDING THE FACTORS AFFECTING PUBLIC RESPONSES TO CCUS: INSIGHTS FROM SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
A bit about me + plan for today Dr Chris Jones Plan for talk • University of Sheffield 1. Public opinion of CCS. • Lecturer in Environmental/Social 2. Possible reaction to CCU. Psychology 3. Attitude groups. • c.r.jones@shef.ac.uk 4. Factors influencing • 0114 222 6592 attitudes. Research interests: 5. Morals & Values Attitude formation and change. 6. Local Opinion Public perceptions of supply- and 7. Conclusions demand-side energy production and use initiatives. 8. Contact details
The importance of public opinion • Public opinion can shape technology investment & deployment. • Understanding public opinion and engaging in appropriate public outreach/education is essential. • This importance has been recognized in emerging best practice guidelines for CCS (e.g., World Resources Institute, 2010). • Growing literature assessing opinion of CCS. • Awareness is low but improving. • Attitudes typically characterized by ambivalence. • Very little research into attitudes to utilization of captured carbon, but presents interesting questions.
Common perceived concerns and benefits of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Benefits Concerns • • Might provide a bridge to a low-carbon future Safety risks related to a CO 2 leak or explosion • Could avoid release of large quantities of CO 2 • The risk of ground water contamination • Allows for the continued use of fossil fuels • Harm to flora and fauna near storage sites • Should enhance energy security • Wrong solution to climate change (a band aid) • Helps to clean up coal-fired power plants in • Availability of storage sites developing countries that require energy • Availability of CCS technology/infrastructure • Allows reduction of emissions without • Long term viability of technology necessitating much change to lifestyle • Economic cost • Scale required for mitigation of CO 2 Utilization of captured carbon (?) • Unknown technology • Could draw funding from renewables Adapted and abridged from Ashworth et al. (2010)
What will the public think of CCU? • Publics vs. Public • Refer to literature on Public Understanding of Science & Tech. • Attitudes to Science in the UK (RCUK/DIUS, 2008) – Science/Tech is generally positive – Science/Tech is generally beneficial – People know more about Science/Tech – Speed of development of less concern • Five principal attitudinal groups 1. Confident 2. Sceptical Enthusiasts 3. Less confident 4. Distrustful 5. Indifferent
The FIVE attitudinal groups • Confident people (c.25%) are: – Positive about science, interested, confident in research and regulation, well-informed, highly educated, have feeling of agency. • Sceptical Enthusiasts (c. 12.5%) are: – Enthusiastic, positive about science, sceptical of authority, question independence of science/scientists, feel they lack agency, desire more communication and engagement. • Less Confident people (c. 25%) are: – Older, low level of education, cautious, concerned with change, feel science is OK but out of control, feel ill- informed but feel science is complicated. RCUK/DIUS (2008). Public Attitudes to Science 2008. A survey. London: Research Councils UK and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
The FIVE attitudinal groups • Distrustful people (<20%) are: – Lack trust in Govt. + authority in general, young, mainly female, not interested in science and do not see benefits, concern with some scientific practices (e.g. animal testing). • Indifferent people (c. 20%) are: – High proportion of females, relatively low education, large number of parents w/ children < 16, limited understanding of science, indifferent to science, not concerned with control or regulation. • In sum: It’s difficult to simply split people into for and against + willingness to engage with outreach efforts will differ . RCUK/DIUS (2008). Public Attitudes to Science 2008. A survey. London: Research Councils UK and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
Factors influencing attitudes • The perceived purpose of the technology – Innovation is good, for the right reasons. • Trustworthiness of institutions – Scientists trusted (fragile), govt. and industry less trusted. • Feelings of powerlessness and exclusion – Need for inclusion of publics in decision making. • Speed and direction of innovation – Concern that speed leads to ethical/regulation oversight. • Ethics, trade-offs, social distribution of risks/benefits – Desire for ‘social good’ can lead to acceptance of greater risk. Chilvers, J. & Macnaghten, P. (2011). The future of science governance: A review of public concerns, governance and institutional response. A literature review for the BIS/Sciencewise- ERC ‘Science, Trust and Public Engagement’ project.
Morals & Values influence opinion Religious Faith and CCS • Qualitative study into how religious beliefs, environmental values and climate change relate to attitudes about CCS. • Focus groups held with Christian, Muslim and Secular groups. • All groups were ‘pro - environmental’ but perceived urgency for mitigating climate change differed. – Highest in Secular group, lower in religious groups due to belief in afterlife and/or divine intervention. • Attitudes to CCS – Secular = fairly favourable due to need to address climate change. – Christian = fairly favourable due to environmental ‘mastery’ values. – Muslim = less favourable due to environmental ‘harmony’ values. Hope, A.L.B., Jones, C.R. ( under review ). The Impact of Religious Faith on Attitudes to Environmental Issues and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies: A Qualitative Analysis
Local opinion can be different • Not just NIMBY (Not in my backyard) – Specific form of opposition characterised by general approval paired with local rejection based on self-interest. • Perceived threats to ‘place’ identity can prompt protective responses (Devine-Wright, 2009). • AEP’s “Mountaineer” Case -Study (Jones & Scott, 2012) : – Full post-combustion validation pilot. – Assessment of project related to perceived impact on existing industry. “West Virginia coal, that’s what we are” Tourism executive @ Mason County Jones, C.R., Scott, F., & Kaklamanou, D. ( under review ). Public attitudes to Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in the United States of America and Canada: A qualitative investigation of public opinion in communities hosting demonstration projects. Int. Jnl of Greenhouse Gas Control.
Conclusions • Public opinion will affect investment in and deployment of CCSU projects. • Publics not public • Features of technology are important but opinion is shaped by other factors. • Local opinion might differ from general opinion – more or less favourable? • Communication and Engagement will be key.
Environment and Behaviour Research Group (EBRG), Dept. of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TP. c.r.jones@sheffield.ac.uk 0114 222 6592 THANK YOU FOR LISTENING
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