Data from: Perceptions of enhanced weathering as a biological negative emissions option

This paper addresses the social acceptability of enhanced weathering, a technology which would involve spreading silicate particles over terrestrial surfaces in order to boost the biological processes which 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 agree 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 minimisation, 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.

本论文探讨了增强风化（enhanced weathering）技术的社会接受度问题——该技术通过将硅酸盐颗粒铺撒于陆地表面，以强化当前作为地球自然碳循环组成部分的固碳生物过程。本研究首次针对英国公众对增强风化的态度展开系统性探索，采用面向具有代表性配额抽样的公众群体开展的线上调查，有效样本量为n=935。公众对增强风化的基线认知水平极低。尽管支持增强风化的受访者人数多于反对者，但多数受访者对该技术的风险仍持不确定或中立态度。能够预测公众对增强风化及其相关研究支持度的影响因素包括对该技术的主观感知以及对科学家的信任程度。超过半数的受访者认可科学家有权开展增强风化的有效性与风险相关研究，但同时要求研究开展需满足多项约束条件：包括保障科研独立性、实施小规模试验、开展严格监测、最小化潜在风险以及确保研究结果透明公开。作为面向生物类及其他类型负排放技术（negative emissions technologies）的全面负责任研究与创新框架的组成部分，需开展公众参与活动，以更细致地探究为何部分个体对增强风化持正面或负面态度，以及为何他们认为相关研究需满足特定约束条件。