Social Considerations and Best Practices for Engaging Publics on Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement

Abstract

n the wake of numerous propositions to trial, test or up-scale ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) for carbon dioxide removal (CDR), multiple social considerations have begun to be identified. To ensure that OAE research is responsible (is attentive to societal priorities) and successful (does not prematurely engender widespread social rejection), it will be critical to understand how OAE might be perceived as risky or controversial, and under what conditions it might be regarded by relevant social groups as most worthy of exploration. To facilitate the answering of these questions, this chapter: (1) characterizes what is known to date about public perceptions of OAE; (2) provides methodological suggestions on how to conduct social science research and public engagement to accompany OAE field research, and; (3) addresses how knowledge gained from social research and public engagement on OAE can be integrated into ongoing scientific, siting, and communications work.