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Perceptions of enhanced weathering as a biological negative emissions option.

ABSTRACT: This paper addresses the social acceptability of enhanced weathering, a technology that would involve spreading silicate particles over terrestrial surfaces in order to boost the biological processes that currently sequester CO2 as part of the earth's natural carbon cycle. We present the first exploration of British attitudes towards enhanced weathering, using an online survey (n = 935) of a representative quota sample of the public. Baseline awareness of weathering was extremely low. Many respondents remained undecided or neutral about risks, although more people support than oppose weathering. Factors predicting support for weathering and its research included feelings about the technology and trust in scientists. Over half of the sample agrees that scientists should be able to conduct research into effectiveness and risks, but with conditions also placed upon how research is conducted, including the need for scientific independence, small-scale trials, strict monitoring, risk minimization and transparency of results. Public engagement is needed to explore in more detail why particular individuals feel either positive or negative about weathering, and why they believe particular conditions should be applied to research, as part of wider responsible research and innovation processes for biological and other types of negative emissions technologies.

SUBMITTER: Pidgeon NF

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5414695 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Perceptions of enhanced weathering as a biological negative emissions option.

Pidgeon Nick F NF Spence Elspeth E

Biology letters 20170401 4

This paper addresses the social acceptability of enhanced weathering, a technology that would involve spreading silicate particles over terrestrial surfaces in order to boost the biological processes that currently sequester CO<sub>2</sub> as part of the earth's natural carbon cycle. We present the first exploration of British attitudes towards enhanced weathering, using an online survey (<i>n</i> = 935) of a representative quota sample of the public. Baseline awareness of weathering was extreme ...[more]

PMID: 28381635

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Project description:Coastal enhanced weathering (CEW) is a carbon dioxide removal (CDR) approach whereby crushed silicate minerals are spread in coastal zones to be naturally weathered by waves and tidal currents, releasing alkalinity and removing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). Olivine has been proposed as a candidate mineral due to its abundance and high CO2 uptake potential. A life cycle assessment (LCA) of silt-sized (10 μm) olivine revealed that CEW's life-cycle carbon emissions and total environmental footprint, i.e., carbon and environmental penalty, amount to around 51 kg CO2eq and 3.2 Ecopoint (Pt) units per tonne of captured atmospheric CO2, respectively, and these will be recaptured within a few months. Smaller particle sizes dissolve and uptake atmospheric CO2 even faster; however, their high carbon and environmental footprints (e.g., 223 kg CO2eq and 10.6 Pt tCO2-1, respectively, for 1 μm olivine), engineering challenges in comminution and transportation, and possible environmental stresses (e.g., airborne and/or silt pollution) might restrict their applicability. Alternatively, larger particle sizes exhibit lower footprints (e.g., 14.2 kg CO2eq tCO2-1 and 1.6 Pt tCO2-1, respectively, for 1000 μm olivine) and could be incorporated in coastal zone management schemes, thus possibly crediting CEW with avoided emissions. However, they dissolve much slower, requiring 5 and 37 years before the 1000 μm olivine becomes carbon and environmental net negative, respectively. The differences between the carbon and environmental penalties highlight the need for using multi-issue life cycle impact assessment methods rather than focusing on carbon balances alone. When CEW's full environmental profile was considered, it was identified that fossil fuel-dependent electricity for olivine comminution is the main environmental hotspot, followed by nickel releases, which may have a large impact on marine ecotoxicity. Results were also sensitive to transportation means and distance. Renewable energy and low-nickel olivine can minimize CEW's carbon and environmental profile.

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Perceptions of enhanced weathering as a biological negative emissions option.

Publications

Perceptions of enhanced weathering as a biological negative emissions option.

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