IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/jinfst/v75y2024i5p625-639.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Shaping information and knowledge on climate change technologies: A cross‐country qualitative analysis of carbon capture and storage results on Google search

Author

Listed:
  • Jussara Rowland
  • Sergi López‐Asensio
  • Ataberk Bagci
  • Ana Delicado
  • Ana Prades

Abstract

Commercial search engines play a central role in shaping, defining, and promoting the information people have access to in contemporary societies. This is particularly true when it comes to emergent technologies, for which there is often limited available information in legacy media and other sources, thus having a strong bearing on public perceptions. In this article, we focus on how the Google search engine promotes information on carbon capture and storage (CCS). We explore how Google's ranking parameters and interface shape the information people access when searching for CCS through a qualitative analysis comparing the results in three countries (France, Spain, and Portugal). We focus on the content of the first search engine result pages (SERP) and consider both Google's ranking criteria and the content and format of promoted sources. The study reveals Google's influence in highlighting Wikipedia pages, Q&A‐formatted sources, and prioritizing online specialized media and private corporations. Additionally, we observe country‐specific variations in terms of actors and types of content, reflecting the level of interest and investment in the topic at the national level. These findings underscore the significant role of search engine mediations in shaping public perceptions and knowledge about emergent climate change technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Jussara Rowland & Sergi López‐Asensio & Ataberk Bagci & Ana Delicado & Ana Prades, 2024. "Shaping information and knowledge on climate change technologies: A cross‐country qualitative analysis of carbon capture and storage results on Google search," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 75(5), pages 625-639, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jinfst:v:75:y:2024:i:5:p:625-639
    DOI: 10.1002/asi.24828
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.24828
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/asi.24828?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Minh Ha-Duong & Ana Sofia Campos & Alain Nadaï, 2007. "A survey on the public perception of CCS in France," Working Papers hal-00866557, HAL.
    2. Carola Braun, 2017. "Not in My Backyard: CCS Sites and Public Perception of CCS," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 37(12), pages 2264-2275, December.
    3. Ragnar Lofstedt, 2015. "Effective risk communication and CCS: the road to success in Europe," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(6), pages 675-691, June.
    4. Brittany Brannon & Amy G. Buhler & Tara Tobin Cataldo & Ixchel M. Faniel & Lynn Silipigni Connaway & Joyce Kasman Valenza & Christopher Cyr, 2022. "Genre containers: Building a theoretical framework for studying formats in information behavior," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 73(4), pages 609-624, April.
    5. Wim Carton & Adeniyi Asiyanbi & Silke Beck & Holly J. Buck & Jens F. Lund, 2020. "Negative emissions and the long history of carbon removal," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 11(6), November.
    6. Dimitrios Giomelakis & Christina Karypidou & Andreas Veglis, 2019. "SEO inside Newsrooms: Reports from the Field," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-15, December.
    7. Danny Otto & Maria Pfeiffer & Mariana Madruga de Brito & Matthias Gross, 2022. "Fixed Amidst Change: 20 Years of Media Coverage on Carbon Capture and Storage in Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-16, June.
    8. Dowd, Anne-Maree & Boughen, Naomi & Ashworth, Peta & Carr-Cornish, Simone, 2011. "Geothermal technology in Australia: Investigating social acceptance," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(10), pages 6301-6307, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hurlbert, Margot & Osazuwa-Peters, Mac, 2023. "Carbon capture and storage in Saskatchewan: An analysis of communicative practices in a contested technology," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    2. Carola Braun & Christine Merk & Gert Pönitzsch & Katrin Rehdanz & Ulrich Schmidt, 2018. "Public perception of climate engineering and carbon capture and storage in Germany: survey evidence," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(4), pages 471-484, April.
    3. Kévin Nadarajah & Laurent Brun & Stéphanie Bordel & Emeline Ah-Tchine & Anissa Dumesnil & Antoine Marques Mourato & Jacques Py & Laurent Jammes & Xavier Arnauld De Sartre & Alain Somat, 2024. "A Three-Stage Psychosocial Engineering-Based Method to Support Controversy and Promote Mutual Understanding between Stakeholders: The Case of CO 2 Geological Storage," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-15, February.
    4. Christian Binz & Noosha Bronte Razavian & Michael Kiparsky, 2018. "Of Dreamliners and Drinking Water: Developing Risk Regulation and a Safety Culture for Direct Potable Reuse," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 32(2), pages 511-525, January.
    5. Jaiswal, Sreeja & R., Goutham & Devashali, Charu Chandra, 2022. "Climate Change Policy in Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use: An Argument for Equity," Review of Agrarian Studies, Foundation for Agrarian Studies, vol. 12(2), December.
    6. Knoblauch, Theresa A.K. & Trutnevyte, Evelina & Stauffacher, Michael, 2019. "Siting deep geothermal energy: Acceptance of various risk and benefit scenarios in a Swiss-German cross-national study," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 807-816.
    7. Lorraine Whitmarsh & Dimitrios Xenias & Christopher R. Jones, 2019. "Framing effects on public support for carbon capture and storage," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(1), pages 1-10, December.
    8. Pierre-André Jouvet & Marie Renner, 2014. "Social Acceptance and Optimal Pollution: CCS or Tax?," Post-Print hal-01385960, HAL.
    9. Seyed Mehdi Alizadeh & Yasin Khalili & Mohammad Ahmadi, 2024. "Comprehensive Review of Carbon Capture and Storage Integration in Hydrogen Production: Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Perspectives," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-35, October.
    10. Romanach, Lygia & Carr-Cornish, Simone & Muriuki, Grace, 2015. "Societal acceptance of an emerging energy technology: How is geothermal energy portrayed in Australian media?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 1143-1150.
    11. Breitschopf, Barbara & Dütschke, Elisabeth & Duscha, Vicki & Haendel, Michael & Hirzel, Simon & Kantel, Anne & Lehmann, Sascha & Marscheider-Weidemann, Frank & Riemer, Matia & Tröger, Josephine & Wiet, 2023. "Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage: Ein Gamechanger in der Klimapolitik?," Perspectives – Policy Briefs 01 / 2023 (DE), Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI).
    12. Barbara Pavlakovič & Milica Rančić Demir & Nejc Pozvek & Maja Turnšek, 2021. "Role of Tourism in Promoting Geothermal Energy: Public Interest and Motivation for Geothermal Energy Tourism in Slovenia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-16, September.
    13. Spampatti, Tobia & Hahnel, Ulf J.J. & Trutnevyte, Evelina & Brosch, Tobias, 2022. "Short and long-term dominance of negative information in shaping public energy perceptions: The case of shallow geothermal systems," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    14. Andreas Veglis & Dimitrios Giomelakis, 2019. "Search Engine Optimization," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-2, December.
    15. Marjoke Heneweer & Tim Bertels & Ingrid Meier, 2015. "Health risk perception and effective communication regarding CCS. Commentary to 'Effective risk communication and CCS: the road to success in Europe', by Ragnar Lofstedt," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(6), pages 695-698, June.
    16. Soltani, M. & Moradi Kashkooli, Farshad & Souri, Mohammad & Rafiei, Behnam & Jabarifar, Mohammad & Gharali, Kobra & Nathwani, Jatin S., 2021. "Environmental, economic, and social impacts of geothermal energy systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    17. Cousse, Julia & Trutnevyte, Evelina & Hahnel, Ulf J.J., 2021. "Tell me how you feel about geothermal energy: Affect as a revealing factor of the role of seismic risk on public acceptance," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    18. Baek, Haein & Chung, Ji-Bum & Yun, Gi Woong, 2021. "Differences in public perceptions of geothermal energy based on EGS technology in Korea after the Pohang earthquake: National vs. local," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    19. Kim, Ju-Hee & Kim, Hee-Hoon & Yoo, Seung-Hoon, 2022. "Social acceptance toward constructing a combined heat and power plant near people's dwellings in South Korea," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 244(PB).
    20. Mathy, Sandrine & Fink, Meike & Bibas, Ruben, 2015. "Rethinking the role of scenarios: Participatory scripting of low-carbon scenarios for France," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 176-190.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:jinfst:v:75:y:2024:i:5:p:625-639. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.asis.org .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.