Presentation short abstract

Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technology is sometimes supported by far right political parties, for environmental and other reasons. Analysing when and why this happens offers a lens onto far right positionings on ecological issues, which highlights technology as a key dividing line.

Presentation long abstract

Carbon dioxide removal (CDR)? CDR is a set of technologies for removing CO2 from the atmosphere and sequestering it, and an absolutely necessary option under the current climate policy master frame of net zero, to balance out emissions that are deemed impossible to abate. Far-right parties often resist climate action, but not always (Lockwood 2018), and it is very important to understand the conditions under which the far right will resist or support CDR, but it has not been studied.

In this talk, I set out suggested directions for research on this topic, by speculating around two broad themes, informed by existing literature. The first theme is about far right ideas, and how they may clash or chime with CDR, whereas the second theme is about what far right political parties do in relation to CDR, acting for or against, or showing preference for some types over others.