Framing and bias in CO² capture and storage communication films: Reflections from a CO² capture and storage research group

There has been a growing trend towards incorporating short, educational films as part of research funding and project proposals. Researchers and developers in CO2 capture and storage are using films to communicate outcomes, but such films can be influenced by experiences and values of the producers. We document the content and presentation of seven online CO2 capture and storage films to determine how framing occurs and its influence on the tone of films. The core frame presents CO2 capture and storage as a potential solution to an imminent crisis in climatic warming and lack of a sustainable energy supply. Three subsidiary frames represent CO2 capture and storage as (1) the only option, (2) a partial option or (3) a scientific curiosity. The results demonstrate that an understanding of the nuanced explicit and implicit messages portrayed by films is essential both for effective framing according to one’s intention and for wider public understanding of a field.