Editorial: Carbon dioxide removal: perspectives from the social sciences and humanities

Anders Hanssen*, Shinichiro Asayama, Miranda Boettcher, Mathias Fridahl

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalEditorialAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

In recent years, carbon dioxide removal (CDR) methods have been increasingly recognized as crucial in climate policy and scientific contexts. According to the latest IPCC reports, the 1.5-degree target is unattainable without rapid and substantial investments in CDR. These methods are also crucial to counteract residual emissions. Currently, integrated assessment models (IAMs) and techno-economic research dominate the interpretive space for understanding and deliberating the future of CDR methods and translating these understandings into policy and political action. A criticism of this dominance is that many important perspectives on technical development, socio-ecological challenges, local political contexts, and other complexities are relegated to a marginal role. If large-scale CDR is portrayed as achievable through its incorporation into mitigation scenarios and climate policies, this might justify less focus on crucial short-term challenges. Against this backdrop, we aimed to invite theoretical and empirical contributions from the social sciences and humanities about CDR-related policy design or analyses of recent policy developments, construction of knowledge in scientific discourses, historical and contemporary experiences of CDR in different contexts, and political and public debates over CDR. The Research Topic has gathered contributions that provide puzzle pieces that nuance, deepen, or challenge previous research through empirical case studies, theoretical engagement, literature reviews, policy and governance analysis, or analyses of perspectives from the public, experts, or industry.
Original languageEnglish
Article number1509331
JournalFrontiers in Climate: Carbon Dioxide Removal
Volume6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Oct 2024

Keywords

  • carbon dioxice removal
  • climate policy
  • climate politics
  • climate social sciences and humanities
  • net negative emissions
  • residual emissions

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