Public concerns about ocean iron fertilisation

As marine carbon dioxide removal is gaining increased attention, discussions about climate solutions are crucial as future deployment of some carbon dioxide removal techniques seems inevitable. The case for ocean iron fertilisation (OIF) is one such proposal, whereby stimulating primary production in the ocean could increase its ability to absorb carbon dioxide and remove it from the atmosphere. Public perceptions research shows that OIF may produce a strong negative response, with people concerned that OIF would ‘mess with nature’ and impact marine organisms and wildlife. As ocean fertilisation has many scientific uncertainties, public worry about causing unintended consequences and the irreversibility of OIF. Lastly, trust and transparency in the actors involved will heavily influence its acceptability to any affected stakeholders, such as indigenous groups. Evidence clearly shows the need for collaborative research, meaningful project co-design and clear engagement with fully integrated publics to inform any proposed activities.