WHO'S TALKING? WHAT ARE THE ISSUES? THE MEDIA'S PORTRAYAL OF CARBON DIOXIDE CAPTURE AND SEQUESTRATION IN THE UNITED STATES

摘要

Our analysis indicates that, to date: discussion of carbon sequestration in the United States is largely being conducted at the national level. The viewpoints of local publics are not yet evident. The media portrayal of carbon sequestration in the United States is primarily favorable or neutral. This portrayal may be due to a number of factors in addition to support for the potential of CCS technologies, as outlined below, to ensure sustained reduction in CO_2 emissions. For example, the favorable or neutral portrayal may be attributable to the large number of articles related to DOE announcements and the predominance of DOE and DOE-related spokespersons. In part, also, it may be attributable to the tendency of the media to seek out and present opposing viewpoints to demonstrate a lack of bias. It may also be that some private sector and non-governmental thought leaders are "sitting on the fence" until more is known about how this technology performs in the real world and are therefore speaking to the media about CCS in a measured manner. 1. Supportive comments about carbon sequestration appear to view the research as promising, with the potential to provide a solution to greenhouse gas emissions—transforming coal (an abundant domestic energy source) into an environmentally benign source and/or buying time for the transition to some type of "green economy." 2. Comments indicating concern are focused primarily on the broader context of climate change policy and on issues relating to the ability of geologic strata to permanently isolate injected CO_2 from the atmosphere. A large number of comments noted that additional policy measures such as tax incentives and mandated emissions cuts are needed, and the technology should not be the sole policy focus or be developed at the expense of other solutions.