While the issue of reducing greenhouse gases is becoming more prominent, the Australian public still don’t know enough about new technologies that could reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere according to a report published in Swinburne’s Australian Journal of Emerging Technologies and Society.

Authored by Dr Evonne Miller from the Queensland University of Technology, the report explores public attitudes to new technologies such as carbon sequestration, or carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS). CCS refers to technology and processes that are used to extract carbon from the atmosphere, and different ways that carbon is stored after its extraction.

The study surveyed 1273 Australian adults and most people (58%) agreed it was very important for Australia to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, however the majority of these people (43%) admitted to not following the greenhouse gas debate closely or at all (19%).

Only 21% of respondents were confident that CCS would be safe and carefully regulated, but the majority (85%) said they would need more information to form a clear opinion about storing carbon underground.

While participants had little prior knowledge of CCS, most were willing to learn more about this technology.

Dr Miller said the report highlighted that scientists and policy makers needed to keep the public more engaged in the greenhouse gas debate.

“This study raises a number of important issues that future research should address, including the challenge of engaging the public with such a global issue and what role socio-demographic differences may play in people’s attitudes,” she said.

The report also identified that younger respondents, aged under 35 years, were more likely to completely trust and believe information from official information providers such as government departments.

She added that the sample comprised predominantly female respondents (79%) and that demographically, all respondents reported higher than average levels of income and education, and that further research into public attitudes would help provide a broader picture.