As atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations continue to rise,
policy makers 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 because of its potential to permanently store large
quantities of carbon. Although DACS’s energy requirements and high
costs have limited its deployment to date, planning and construction
efforts rapidly expanded in recent years, thanks to generous
government support. However, DACS facilities are not always
welcomed by local communities or environmental advocates 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 policy making. 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
environmental and safety concerns.
