Abstract: Carbon capture and removal technologies are regarded by experts as important to deep decarbonization, yet they have been contentious on local and regional levels. What are the main concerns people identify, and how do they see these technologies fitting into the landscape of climate action and energy transition more broadly? This talk draws on mixed-methods research conducted in 2023-2024 that involved interviews with community leaders, focus groups with the public, and surveys in five different regions of the United States. We will discuss carbon management within the context of attitudes on green industrial development, net zero policy, and desired economic activities to better understand the social challenges that these technologies will likely face if governments and companies continue to try to develop carbon management projects.
Biography: Holly Jean Buck is an Associate Professor of Environment and Sustainability at the University at Buffalo. She is an environmental social scientist and human geographer whose research focuses on public engagement with emerging climate and energy technologies. She holds a Ph.D in Development Sociology from Cornell University. Currently, she is a 2024-25 Radcliffe-Salata Climate Justice Fellow at Harvard University.
Link to register: https://go.illinois.edu/Carbon-Perception