Peta Ashworth

Public acceptance of carbon dioxide capture and storage in a proposed demonstration area

Abstract With the rising levels of CO2 in the atmosphere, low-emission technologies with carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) provide one option for transforming the global energy infrastructure into a more environmentally, climate sustainable system. However, like many technology innovations, there is a social risk to the acceptance of CCS. This article presents the findings of an engagement process using facilitated workshops conducted in two communities in rural Queensland, Australia, where a demonstration project for IGCC with CCS has been announced. The findings demonstrate that workshop participants were concerned about climate change and wanted leadership from government and industry to address the issue. After the workshops, participants reported increased knowledge and more positive attitudes towards CCS, expressing support for the demonstration project to continue in their local area. The process developed is one that could be utilized around the world to successfully engage communities on the low carbon emission technology options.

Doing the Social in Social License

A social license to operate (SLO) is said to result from a complex and sometimes difficult set of negotiations between communities and organizations (NGOs, government, and industry). Each stakeholder group will hold different views about what is important, what is true, and who can or cannot be trusted. This article reviews the contributions made in this special issue on SLO. It also sketches the benefits of applying phronesis, or a practical wisdom-based theorization, of how SLOs can be co-produced.

The Citizen’s Round Table process: canvassing public opinion on energy technologies to mitigate climate change

This study draws on communication accommodation theory, social identity theory and cognitive dissonance theory to drive a ‘Citizen’s Round Table’ process that engages community audiences on energy technologies and strategies that potentially mitigate climate change. The study examines the effectiveness of the process in determining the strategies that engage people in discussion. The process is designed to canvas participants’ perspectives and potential reactions to the array of renewable and non-renewable energy sources, in particular, underground storage of CO2. Ninety-five people (12 groups) participated in the process. Questionnaires were administered three times to identify changes in attitudes over time, and analysis of video, audio-transcripts and observer notes enabled an evaluation of level of engagement and communication among participants. The key findings of this study indicate that the public can be meaningfully engaged in discussion on the politically sensitive issue of CO2 capture and storage (CCS) and other low emission technologies. The round table process was critical to participants’ engagement and led to attitude change towards some methods of energy production. This study identifies a process that can be used successfully to explore community attitudes on politically-sensitive topics and encourages an examination of attitudes and potential attitude change.

Turning the Heat On: Public Engagement in Australia's Energy Future

As this book ably demonstrates, there is a growing body of research on public beliefs, reactions and responses to large-scale renewable energy projects of various forms, often focused on case studies of controversy and local conflict. The profile of available cases has expanded significantly, covering a diversity of locations and contexts around the world and a wide range of types of renewable energy technology and modes of project development. Alongside the reporting of empirical research, there have also been various attempts to describe and characterize public responses to renewable energy projects and develop explanatory frameworks or predictive models. These include the NIMBY (‘Not in my back yard’) explanations of public opposition that are often favoured in media reporting and political debate (Toynbee, 2007), broad frameworks for thinking about social acceptance (Wustenhagen et al, 2007) and statistical models that characterize and measure variables that are believed to predict the nature of public opposition (Wolsink, 2000) or planning decision outcomes (Toke et al, 2008).

Towards the intelligent grid: a review of the literature

Publisher Summary This chapter highlights the need for understanding social perspectives toward distributed energy within the Australian context, as part of a vision for an intelligent grid. The conceptual model proposed suggests a theoretical way forward to enable the future vision for an electricity network that balances supply and demand for the benefit of consumers and utilities, and minimizes greenhouse gas emissions, losses, and price. The model is based on a causal chain from knowledge, beliefs and attitudes, through intention to act, actual behavior, longer-term acceptance and uptake of distributed energy technology. In addition, the model acknowledges external influences on individual behavior including physical, social, economic, and political factors. It also recognizes that a supportive socio-political environment is a vital component of any successful broad-scale adoption of distributed energy technologies. The chapter elucidates that no single body of literature is fully and solely relevant for the public acceptance of distributed energy generation, and empirical data is required to advance the understanding in this area.

Examining the Role of Carbon Capture and Storage Through an Ethical Lens

Abstract The risk posed by anthropogenic climate change is generally accepted, and the challenge we face to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to a tolerable limit cannot be underestimated. Reducing GHG emissions can be achieved either by producing less GHG to begin with or by emitting less GHG into the atmosphere. One carbon mitigation technology with large potential for capturing carbon dioxide at the point source of emissions is carbon capture and storage (CCS). However, the merits of CCS have been questioned, both on practical and ethical grounds. While the practical concerns have already received substantial attention, the ethical concerns still demand further consideration. This article aims to respond to this deficit by reviewing the critical ethical challenges raised by CCS as a possible tool in a climate mitigation strategy and argues that the urgency stemming from climate change underpins many of the concerns raised by CCS.

Exploring the acceptance of a domestic distributed energy market in Australia

A distributed energy system involves the use of small local power generators to supplement or replace the centralised domestic electricity supply. The widespread adoption of small local power generators presents a path for early action on climate change by reducing the emissions associated with a centralised fossil fuel electricity system. A strong potential influence on the emergence of a domestic distributed energy market in Australia is the willingness of the public to accept distributed generation. To study the potential acceptance of distributed energy we considered the environmental concern and consumer technology adoption literature. We then surveyed 706 householders from four Australian states during 2007. Our analysis of these data pointed to the publics willingness to accept the use of distributed generators, identified attitudinal and demographic characteristics related to higher acceptance, and assessed preferences regarding the technologys features. These findings provide a basis for understanding the behaviour of the public in the advent of a domestic distributed energy market. Implications are presented for decision-makers involved with domestic distributed energy and for researchers of products that have both environmental and technological characteristics.

The Language of Science and Social Licence to Operate

Social licence to operate (SLO) is an informal agreement that infers ongoing acceptance of an industrial or energy project by a local community and the stakeholders affected by it. Negotiation of SLOs centrally implicates language and communication, including scientific language and concepts. We first review the literature about the definition and communicative features of SLOs, and their relation to scientific communication. We describe communication accommodation theory and the ways that it can help understand (un)successful SLO negotiation, and describe examples of texts that show accommodative or nonaccommodative language around SLOs. We summarize some results which help indicate different ways of accommodating communities in the negotiation of SLOs. Finally, we describe a research agenda on communication accommodation and SLOs, in the service of improving their impact on energy, the environment, and the transfer of science.

CCS in the media: an analysis of international coverage

Internationally, the level of public awareness of carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) technology remains low. The mainstream media have a salient influence in shaping the debate on CCSs implementation and its risks. This paper presents the results of analysis of print media coverage of CCS worldwide between August 2009 and June 2010. A total of 1138 articles from the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum were reviewed and analysed. The majority of these articles were balanced or neutral in tone and lacking in technical detail. Fifteen key themes were identified. Two of these emerged the most frequently across all sources: CCS pilot and demonstration projects, and funding issues. This suggests a pattern of media curiosity over how financial support for CCS is provided and what results are occurring at pilot and demonstration efforts. Cross-regional key risks included: Time, cost, and implementation issues; technical validity; and storage capacity issues.

What Do Science Communicators Talk About When They Talk About Science Communications? Engaging With the Engagers

A series of workshops on impediments and solutions to best practice in science communication in Australia not only provided insights into the diversity of the community of practice but also reflected discords between best practice and popular ideas among practitioners.