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Nicholls said although carbon storage could contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gases while still meeting the world’s growing energy demands, not everyone believed carbon storage was a viable or desirable pathway for the future.
“History provides many examples of failed or delayed projects where good science has not been publicly acceptable,” Nicholls said.
“Before embarking on an engagement program it is important to understand the context from which people may be forming opinions about carbon storage.”
Nicholls outlined four lessons that could be applied to the engagement process. Early engagement was critical to the success of a project; engagement must be targeted to all those with an opinion; an effective engagement program requires different skills to the technical skills of a project team; and engagement requires planning as detailed as the technical project plan and it must be integrated in the planning process from the beginning.
“It is hard for those of us trained in science to cope with the feelings and perceptions of people who do not trust the science.”
A significant number of carbon storage projects have already been started or are being considered. However, at least three carbon storage demonstration projects have been delayed or cancelled due to public pressure.
“Two of these, one in Hawaii and the other in Norway, proposed to trial ocean disposal of CO2 rather the geosequestration. The Hawaii demonstration was defeated primarily on local grounds, whereas opposition in Norway came from the larger international environmental lobby groups,” she said.
These two trials were eventually scaled down.
The Australian coal industry has adopted a planned engagement process in the COAL21 initiative, aimed at developing a national approach to eliminating greenhouse gas emissions.
The initiative has adopted a multi-stakeholder approach with a steering committee. Another step in the program will be a stakeholder reference group, which will include green and social NGO’s, unions and renewable and intensive industries.
