The Influence of Social Dominance Orientation on Public Support for Carbon Capture and Storage with the Risk of Induced Seismicity

Abstract

We present social survey findings regarding the influence of social dominance orientation (SDO) on public support for carbon capture, utilization, and underground storage (CCUS) technologies with the risk of induced seismicity. Using data from a nationally representative survey of 2,188 U.S. adults conducted in Spring 2023, regression analyses are used to examine how SDO shapes attitudes towards CCUS while controlling for demographic factors, political affiliations, and religious beliefs. The findings reveal a positive correlation between higher SDO scores and support for CCUS, particularly related to SDO-dominance beliefs. Additionally, political ideology, education, income, and religious beliefs emerged as significant predictors of CCUS acceptance, and regional variations in CCUS support and SDO were observed across U.S. Census divisions. These results suggest a complex interplay between psychological, social, and demographic factors in shaping public attitudes towards climate change mitigation technologies, that warrant further research to provide insights for policymakers and communicators seeking to promote CCUS adoption while addressing potential social and environmental concerns.