Public engagement for inclusive and sustainable governance of climate interventions

This article investigates public preferences for engaging in the governance of emerging climate intervention technologies, such as carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and solar radiation modification (SRM). Based on 44 focus groups in 22 countries, the study reveals diverse preferences for engagement practices, ranging from passive information reception to active decision-making authority. The authors highlight the need for context-specific engagement strategies, considering local political cultures, socio-technical environments, technological idiosyncrasies, power dynamics, and prior experiences. Establishing inclusive and sustainable governance requires recognizing diverse engagement forms, tailoring approaches to specific technologies, adopting power-sensitive practices, building trust and procedural legitimacy, and engaging with value disagreements.

Livia Fritz, Chad M. Baum, Sean Low, Benjamin K. Sovacool