How carbon dioxide capture as a solution to climate problems entered the public debate

The researchers intend to examine how adoption of technology enabling permanent carbon dioxide capture entered the public debate, those claiming it, and those whose interests are promoted by the debate. 

Climate change is an increasingly acute problem. A plethora of technical measures are being discussed and developed in an effort to find solutions to the crisis. There are growing calls for carbon dioxide capture to be included in a raft of technical measures to be implemented now and over the coming decades to avoid the worst consequences of climate change.

One proposed technology involves capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in basalt – DACCS-b. Carbon dioxide is captured and dissolved in water, before being pumped under high pressure into underground basalt formations. Theoretically, the carbon dioxide will then react with the rock and be converted into minerals. The central assumption of this approach is that the greenhouse gas will remain in mineral form for ever. This assumption of “permanent state” is why DACCS-b is considered to be the best form of carbon capture.

Investments are based on the conviction that DACCS-b will deliver as predicted. Many climate policies are likewise based on this belief. There are doubts, however, about how permanent this type of carbon dioxide capture really is. Nonetheless, the technology has attracted substantial public funding even though it is an extremely costly and resource-intensive way of mitigating climate change. The current debate has created a perception of DACCS-b as one of the best climate solutions, thereby creating a business case for the companies involved.

The researchers, led by Léa Lévy, will be analyzing how assumptions about the permanence of mineralizing carbon dioxide are taken into account in regulations and laws governing DACCS-b. They also intend to take a closer look at the geology itself. State-of-the-art geological modelling methods will be used to fact-check the claims made about the permanent mineralized state of the gas. A simple modeling tool will be developed to help the public verify the claims made for DACCS-b in specific geological areas.

The research team also wants to focus on risk management, examining whether current regulations suffice to manage the risks involved in DACCS-b if the method does not attain the level of permanence claimed by its advocates.

Lastly, the team will use their research findings to develop a board game about DACCS-b, which can be used to inspire discussion among various stakeholders and others involved. The researchers believe the discussions generated by the board game will help in developing recommendations on how to better regulate DACCS-b in the future.

The researchers hope their findings will improve climate action strategies so that measures can be taken to effectively and securely help to mitigate the climate crisis.