Public perceptions and social acceptance of carbon capture and storage: summary
Published 18 September 2026
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2026
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1. Chief Scientist’s Group report summary
This report presents a review of social scientific research on public perceptions and social acceptance of carbon capture and storage (CCS). It also analyses four international case studies of CCS projects which have experienced varying levels of public support. This evidence can offer insights into how people in the UK will respond as CCS deployment gathers pace, to help support public engagement and inform regulatory decision-making.
1.1 Background
CCS is expected to play an important role in reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, by capturing carbon dioxide emissions from industrial activities and transporting them for permanent storage underground. CCS is being deployed in the UK, and the first projects have received over £20 billion in government funding. The Environment Agency plays a regulatory role in CCS, including permitting carbon capture activities and aspects of pipeline infrastructure and acting as the Registry Administrator of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme. It is important for regulators to be aware of public perceptions of technologies like this to anticipate whether they will be accepted. Understanding why people may have concerns – and whether they have been shaped by misinformation – can help inform constructive dialogue to reach fairer and more acceptable outcomes for all stakeholders.
1.2 Approach
A quick scoping review of social and behavioural science research on public perceptions and social acceptance of CCS was conducted. Four case studies of established CCS projects were also analysed to draw out lessons about public engagement and social acceptance which can inform the UK’s approach. The case studies were: Sleipner in Norway, Tomakomai in Japan, Carbfix in Iceland and Gorgon in Australia.
1.3 Results
One of the most important findings of this project is that demonstrating that carbon is being captured effectively and stored permanently is critical to public acceptance. People also want to know that CCS is safe and does not pose risks to human health or the environment. Benefits for the local community such as the creation of new ‘green’ jobs or a smoother transition for the oil and gas industry may be more compelling than global climate change mitigation
Awareness of CCS amongst the UK public is low and when compared to other net zero technologies, CCS receives moderate support and is less popular than renewable energy. Emerging evidence shows that many people perceive carbon as waste, which can translate into support for permanently removing it from the atmosphere but may lead to concerns about storing carbon that has been captured in other countries.
The case studies and literature review clearly highlight the importance of effective, two-way and early public engagement from developers, regulators and other stakeholders. The case studies also show that providing information in a range of formats, transparent monitoring and relationships with local stakeholders are crucial to securing public support. They also show that projects tend to be more acceptable to the public when associated with science and research and where local government has approached public engagement transparently.
1.4 Conclusions
The findings suggest that securing trust between the public, operators and regulators will be crucial to the successful deployment of CCS in the UK. Building and maintaining that trust will require early, two-way engagement with communities, alongside clear communication about the effectiveness and safety of CCS. The evidence in this report will help the Environment Agency understand public reactions to CCS and can be used to inform engagement with communities and the regulation of this technology.
This summary relates to information from project SC250031, reported in detail in the following output:
1.5 Publication details
- Report: SC250031/R
- Title: Public Perceptions and Social Acceptance of Carbon Capture and Storage
- Science manager: Katie Dow, Chief Scientist’s Group
This project was delivered by the Environment Agency’s Chief Scientist’s Group, which provides scientific knowledge, tools and techniques to enable us to protect and manage the environment as effectively as possible.
Enquiries: research@environment-agency.gov.uk.
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