Public Understanding for CO2 Sequestration
A multinational Comparison

International Workshop on CO2 Geological Storage,JAPAN ‘06
February 20, 2006

Howard J. Herzog
hjherzog@mit.edu
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

Acknowledgment
This presentation is based on research supported by the Alliancefor Global Sustainability, National Institute of Advanced
Industrial Science and Technology of Japan, and the MIT Carbon
Sequestration Initiative, with valuable contributions by David
Reiner (University of Cambridge/MIT), Tom Curry (MIT), Markde Figueiredo (MIT), Steven Ansolabehere (MIT), Kenshi Itaoka(Mizuho Information & Research Institute), Makoto Akai
(National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science andTechnology), Filip Johnsson (Chalmers University ofTechnology), and Mikael Odenberger (Chalmers University ofTechnology).
Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

Background• Project on CCS Social and Political Implications
 Identify, study, and address non-technical issues associatedwith CCS
 Provide guidance to decision makers
 Evaluate attitudes of the public and key stakeholders to see
what role CCS might play in a more sustainable energy system• Public Attitude Reference Reiner, D.M., T.E. Curry, M.A. de Figueiredo, H.J. Herzog, S.D.
Ansolabehere, K. Itaoka, F. Johnsson, M. Odenberger, "American
Exceptionalism? Similarities and Differences in National Attitudes
Towards Energy Policy and Global Warming," accepted by Environmental
Science & Technology (2006).
Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

Survey of Public Attitudes
USSurvey
distribution

UK

Knowledge YouGov
Networks

SwedenJapan

Statistics
SwedenMizuho Inst. &NAIST

Research partner MITCambridge

Chalmers

Mizuho Inst.

Methodology

InternetInternet

WrittenWritten# of responses

1,205

1,056

742

1,006

Response rate

70%

40%

49%

64%

Date of survey

Oct 2003

Sept 2004

Dec 2004

Dec 2003

Questions

20 multiple 20 multiple 20
choicechoicemultiplechoiceHoward J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

5 written +66 multiple
ChoiceOutline• Public Attitude toward and Understandingof Climate Change• Public Awareness of CO2 Capture andStorage (CCS)• Implications for Public Acceptance

Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

What are the Three Most Important
Issues Facing the US Today?
Rank Issue%

Rank Issue%

1 Terrorism

4212 Taxes

112 Health Care35

13 Environment

93 Economy

35

14 Poverty

84 Unemployment30

15 Aging Population

55 Family Values

20

16 Income Inequality

46 Education

1917 AIDS

47 Federal Budget Deficit

1518 Abortion

48 Foreign Policy

1419 Racism

49 Crime

1420 Welfare

310 Social Security1321 Inflation

311 Drugs

1222 Stock Market

2Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

What are the Three Most ImportantIssues Facing the UK Today?
Rank Issue%

Rank Issue%

1 Asylum seekers

4214 Introducing € / Keeping £72 Terrorism

3915 Poverty

73 Crime

31

16 Welfare

64 Health care

26

17 Unemployment

55 Education

1718 Income inequality

56 Drugs

1619 Racism

47 Aging population

1520 Social exclusion

48 Environment

1321 Inflation

29 Taxes

1322 Budget deficit

110 European Union

1123 AIDS

111 Economy

1024 Abortion

112 Family values

1025 Stock market

013 Foreign policy/Influence1026 None of these

1Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

What are the Three Most Important
Issues Facing Sweden Today?
Rank Issue%

Rank Issue%

1 Health care

57

11 Drugs

72 Unemployment

44

12 Budget deficit

53 Education

41

13 Racism

44 Crime

28

14 Poverty

45 Environment

24

15 Foreign policy

26 Economy of the state

21

16 Inflation

27 Income inequity

1417 Terrorism

28 Welfare

1418 AIDS

19 Aging population

1119 Stock market

110 Taxes

8Other4

Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

Two Most Important Environmental Problems
Facing [My Country] Today
Water pollution
Destruction of ecosystems
Toxic Waste
Overpopulation
Ozone depletion
Global warming
Urban sprawl
Smog
Endangered species
Acid rain
Resource depletion *GM crops *
0%

10%

20%
US

30%
UK

40%

50%60%

Sweden* Resource depletion not included in US survey
Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
GM crops not included in US and Sweden surveys
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

Top Two Priorities for [My Country’s]
National Energy Agency (US DOE, etc.)
New energy sources (solar, wind, etc.)
Anti-terrorism and security
New oil and gas reserves *More energy efficient cars and trucks
Clean drinking water
Energy conservation
Ways to better manage toxic waste
Public transport
Nuclear waste disposal
Nuclear powerWays to remove carbon from atmosphere
More energy efficient buildings
Cleaner burning coalHydropower
0%

10%

20%
US30%
UK40%
Sweden* New oil and gas reserves not included in Sweden survey

Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘0650%

60%

Economy versus Environment
US %

UK %

Sweden %The highest priority should be given to protecting
the environment, even if it hurts the economy

911

17

Both the environment and the economy areimportant, but the environment should come first

45

46

54

Both the environment and the economy areimportant, but the economy should come first

39

30

19

The highest priority should be given to economic
considerations such as jobs even if it hurts theenvironment

834Not sure

N/A

116Answer

Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

Willingness to Pay (WTP)
to Solve Global Warming
100%

Japan
US

90%
80%

UK
Sweden

70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
$0

$50

$100

$150

monthly WTP to solve global warming$200

Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06$250

How Should We Address Global Warming?
Answer

USUKSweden

Japan

Global warming has been established
as a serious problem and immediate
action is necessary

17413554

There is enough evidence that globalwarming is taking placeand some action should be taken

36334534

We don’t know enough about global
warming and more research isnecessary before we take any actions

24

18

138

Concern about global warming isunwarranted

7420

Not sure

16

43

3

Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

How Will We Address Global Warming?
USUKSwedenJapanI believe that firms and government
researchers will develop newtechnologies to solve the problem

2126

37

22

I believe we will have to change ourlifestyles to reduce energy consumption

32272266

I believe we will learn to live with andadapt to a warmer climate

1713

19

4

I believe global warming is a problem but[my country] won’t do anything about it

24

21

14

6

I believe we will do nothing since global
warming is not a problem

732

NANot sure

NA

10

6

2Answer

Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

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40%

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60%

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How do the Following Contribute to Carbon Dioxide Levels? UKPlan

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Japan

Summary• Public opinions & attitudes are largely similar,
differences in national policies are associatedwith different national priorities• Global warming much greater concern in Sweden
and UK than US• US shows weakest support for immediate action,
Japan strongest belief in changing lifestyles, andSweden strongest technology optimists
Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

Outline• Public Attitude toward and Understandingof Climate Change• Public Awareness of CO2 Capture andStorage (CCS)• Implications for Public Acceptance

Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

Have you heard of or read about any ofthe following in the past year?
More efficient cars
Solar energy
Nuclear energy
Wind energy
More efficient appliances
Hydrogen cars
Bioenergy/biomass
Carbon capture and storage
Carbon sequestration
Iron fertilization
None of these
0%

10%

20%

30%

40%
US50%
UK

60%

SwedenHoward J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

70%

80%

90%

Have you heard of or read about any of
the following in the past year?
JapanMore efficient cars
Solar energy
Nuclear energy
Wind energy
More efficient appliances
Hydrogen cars (Fuel cell vehicles)
Bioenergy/ biomass
Carbon capture and storage
Carbon sequestration
Iron fertilization
0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

I know it to some extent

50%

60%

70%

80%

I have heard or read about it

Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

90%

100%

Can CCS Reduce These Environmental Concerns?

US

Global warming

Global warming

Ozone depletion

Ozone depletion

Smog

Smog

Acid rain

Acid rain

Water pollution

Water pollution

Toxic waste

Toxic waste

Resource depletion*

Resource depletion
0%25%

50%75%100%0%25%50%75%

Sweden

UK100%Japan

Global warming

Global warming

Ozone depletion

Ozone depletion

Smog

Smog

Acid rain

Acid rain

Water pollution

Water pollution

Toxic waste

Toxic waste

Resource depletion

Resource depletion*
0%25%50%75%100%

0%

25%

Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
Canreduce
Not sureInternational Workshop on CO２ Geological
Storage, Japan Does
‘06 not reduce

50%

75%100%US

Preferred Energy Technology to Address Global Warming

Solar energy

Solar energy

Energy efficient cars

Energy efficient cars

Wind energy

Wind energy

Carbon sequestration

Carbon sequestration

Bioenergy/biomass

Bioenergy/biomass

Nuclear energy

Nuclear energy

Carbon capture andstorage

Carbon capture andstorage

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

0%

25%

50%

75%

Sweden

UK

100%

Japan

Solar energy

Solar energy

Energy efficient cars

Energy efficient cars

Wind energy

Wind energy

Carbon sequestration

Carbon sequestration

Bioenergy/biomass

Bioenergy/biomass

Nuclear energy

Nuclear energy

Carbon capture andstorage

Carbon capture and storage
0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

0%

25%

50%

HowardMITand not
the useEnvironment
Definitely
use J Herzog,
Probably
useLaboratory
Not sure for Energy
Probably
Definitely not use
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

75%

100%

How can we best address the issue of global
warming as it relates to electricity production?
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
US Without Info
Adapt

R&D

US With Info
Capture and storage

UK Without Info
Nuclear

UK With Info

Renewables

Sweden With Info

Reduce consumption

No threat

Japan Without Info
Don’t know ** Don’t know not included in the US or Japan surveys

Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

Summary• Quite similar technology preferences: Renewables most popular option
 Publics divided over use of CCS but many “unsure”
 Similarly low levels of awareness of CCS in US andUK, slightly higher in Sweden, much higher in Japan
 Shift to nuclear and CCS with more information in
US and UK

Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

Outline• Public Attitude toward and Understandingof Climate Change• Public Awareness of CO2 Capture andStorage (CCS)• Implications for Public Acceptance

Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

Starting Point• Public unfamiliar with CCS• Most people have no opinion on CCS• For people with opinions, 50% favorable,
50% unfavorable

Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

Press Coverage of IPCC Special Report• CO2 Storage May Minimize Climate Change – UNEP
• Carbon Capture has a Big Future, Say Scientists – FT
• New blueprint for storing carbon – ABC Science Online(Australia)• Recycled geological structures to reduce CO2 –Independent (South Africa)• Burying CO2 May Curb Global Warming, But Cost High Reuters• Carbon dioxide storage holds limited promise: Approach
could halve industrial emissions by 2050 – Nature
Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

Key Question• Is there anything inherent in the technology
to make public acceptance more difficult
than for other climate change mitigation
options?

Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

CCS is a Fossil-Fuel Technology• First Impression
 It will allow continued use of fossil fuel• On Closer Inspection
 For the foreseeable future, fossil fuels critical toworld economy
 CCS allows use of fossil fuels in anenvironmentally sensitive manner

Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

CCS Creates a Long-Term Waste• First Impression
 Like nuclear, we are burying the solution andcreating a negative legacy for futuregenerations• On Closer Inspection
 Compared to nuclear waste, the risks fromgeological storage are very small Over time, geologic mechanisms actually
reduce risk

Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

CCS is an Unknown Quantity• First Impression
 Are you serious? You are going to put all that
CO2 into the ground?

• On Closer Inspection
 Analogous operations happening today –Enhanced Oil Recovery, Natural Gas Storage,
Acid Gas Injection plus Sleipner, In-Salah,Weyburn Projected costs comparable with other largescale mitigation options
Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

CCS is not Renewables• First Impression
 Renewables will solve the climate change
problem• On Closer Inspection
 There are technical and economic limitations
for renewables
 CCS should be viewed as part of a portfolio tocomplement (not replace) renewables
 Major competitor to CCS is nuclear
Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

NUMBY• First Impression
 Not Under My BackYard• On Closer Inspection
 Out of sight, out of mind
 Fear factor may be an issue (even if moreperceived than real) No technology escapes NIMBY

Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

CCS Framing & Acceptance• Opinion surveys problematic due to CCS being
an unknown quantity• Early opinions will be informed by how firstprojects are perceived• The case needs to be made that CCS is an
important technology to address climate change
problem

Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

Moving Forward• CCS remains low on the public radar and is at a stage
when the image developed in the media or the publicconsciousness can have long-lasting impact.
• Early successes/failures will disproportionately
influence attitudes at this stage• However, even growing general acceptability does
not guarantee local acceptability• CCS acceptance is likely to improve if it isassociated with existing accepted technologies (i.e.,presented as part of a portfolio)
Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

Contact Information• Web Site - sequestration.mit.edu• Contact
 Howard Herzog
 Laboratory for Energy and the Environment(LFEE)
 Room E40-447
 617-253-0688
 hjherzog@mit.edu

Howard J Herzog, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06