How is international CCS discussed locally? The case of Iceland

Abstract

Communities and scholars have long highlighted the need to attend to public concerns in carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects. Many large-scale CCS deployments are expected to be cross-border projects, posing specific questions in local communities. These questions may relate to the perceived lack of local benefits, why local emissions are not prioritized, and the feeling that each country should deal with its own emissions. We used qualitative research methods, including a thematic analysis of interviews and newspaper articles, to study local perceptions of the Coda Terminal project in Iceland, which is set to become one of the first international CCS hubs. Our results show that the project was depicted as an innovative solution to a global problem, with little impact at its implementation site. At the same time, the innovative nature of the project raised concerns about its scale, the associated risks, and the perception that it imports “waste” from other countries. Concerns have been heightened by the perceived marginalization of opposing voices, including those opposed to importing CO₂. We observed that opportunities to have a productive conversation on the import were obstructed by actors focusing on the correct definition of CO₂ instead of listening to and understanding people’s framings. We provide insights on how thinking about the why, who, and when of technology-tailored public participation can improve the dialogue around cross-border CCS.