Responsible research and innovation of carbon removal: strategies for field trials

Waller, Laurie, Cox, Emily, Binner, Amy, Garcia, Tatiana Cantillo, Everett, Rosie, Henwood, Karen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4631-5468, Ingram, Julie, Morris, Carol, O'Sullivan, Kate, Pidgeon, Nick ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8991-0398, Price, Catherine, Reed, Mark, Silvestri, Alessandro and Bellamy, Rob 2025. Responsible research and innovation of carbon removal: strategies for field trials. Frontiers in Climate 7 , 1658453. 10.3389/fclim.2025.1658453

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Abstract

Demonstrating methods for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is now a focus of research and development programmes designed to support decision making about future technology deployment. In this perspective piece, we outline some of the approaches to responsible research and innovation (RRI) being put to work in a United Kingdom-based programme organising field trials of various carbon removal methods. Unlike the disruptive technologies that predominate in RRI scholarship, many land-based methods for carbon removal have already been deployed, in some cases over many decades, with governance closely linked with longstanding fields of research and practice. We highlight why responsible innovation frameworks that developed in the context of geoengineering controversies may be only partially-suited to field trials of land-based carbon removal methods. We suggest that field trials of carbon removal methods are not simply evidentiary procedures but also strategic sites within an emerging innovation regime where RRI approaches can be both implemented and critically tested.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Psychology Schools > Geography and Planning (GEOPL) Schools > Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Additional Information:	License information from Publisher: LICENSE 1: URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, Start Date: 2025-12-10
Publisher:	Frontiers Media
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	8 January 2026
Date of Acceptance:	10 November 2025
Last Modified:	09 Jan 2026 02:30
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/183717

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