Public engagement is essential for inclusive and sustainable governance of climate-intervention technologies. Based on 44 focus groups in 22 countries (N = 323 participants), this article explores public preferences for various engagement practices, ranging from information recipients to decision-makers. It emphasizes the need for engagement practices that are responsive to local political cultures and socio-technical environments, while considering global dimensions and interconnectedness. The article outlines seven conditions for meaningful public engagement: recognizing diverse forms and intensities of engagement, considering national contexts, tailoring to technological idiosyncrasies, adopting power-sensitive practices, accounting for publics' prior experience, establishing trust and procedural legitimacy, and engaging with tensions and value disagreements. Public engagement is crucial for assessing the desirability and feasibility of emerging climate-intervention technologies. Researchers have created deliberative spaces via focus groups, group facilitations, and workshops to elicit public hopes and concerns regarding selected technologies. Deliberative exercises have revealed public preferences for approaches perceived as "natural" and identified controversy spill-overs and concerns surrounding geological storage. They have also uncovered concerns over unsustainable land use practices and delays in emissions reduction. Public engagement is essential for assessing the desirability and feasibility of emerging climate-intervention technologies. Researchers have created deliberative spaces via focus groups, group facilitations, and workshops to elicit public hopes and concerns regarding selected technologies. Deliberative exercises have revealed public preferences for approaches perceived as "natural" and identified controversy spill-overs and concerns surrounding geological storage. They have also uncovered concerns over unsustainable land use practices and delays in emissions reduction. Public engagement is essential for assessing the desirability and feasibility of emerging climate-intervention technologies. Researchers have created deliberative spaces via focus groups, group facilitations, and workshops to elicit public hopes and concerns regarding selected technologies. Deliberative exercises have revealed public preferences for approaches perceived as "natural" and identified controversy spill-overs and concerns surrounding geological storage. They have also uncovered concerns over unsustainable land use practices and delays in emissions reduction.Public engagement is essential for inclusive and sustainable governance of climate-intervention technologies. Based on 44 focus groups in 22 countries (N = 323 participants), this article explores public preferences for various engagement practices, ranging from information recipients to decision-makers. It emphasizes the need for engagement practices that are responsive to local political cultures and socio-technical environments, while considering global dimensions and interconnectedness. The article outlines seven conditions for meaningful public engagement: recognizing diverse forms and intensities of engagement, considering national contexts, tailoring to technological idiosyncrasies, adopting power-sensitive practices, accounting for publics' prior experience, establishing trust and procedural legitimacy, and engaging with tensions and value disagreements. Public engagement is crucial for assessing the desirability and feasibility of emerging climate-intervention technologies. Researchers have created deliberative spaces via focus groups, group facilitations, and workshops to elicit public hopes and concerns regarding selected technologies. Deliberative exercises have revealed public preferences for approaches perceived as "natural" and identified controversy spill-overs and concerns surrounding geological storage. They have also uncovered concerns over unsustainable land use practices and delays in emissions reduction. Public engagement is essential for assessing the desirability and feasibility of emerging climate-intervention technologies. Researchers have created deliberative spaces via focus groups, group facilitations, and workshops to elicit public hopes and concerns regarding selected technologies. Deliberative exercises have revealed public preferences for approaches perceived as "natural" and identified controversy spill-overs and concerns surrounding geological storage. They have also uncovered concerns over unsustainable land use practices and delays in emissions reduction. Public engagement is essential for assessing the desirability and feasibility of emerging climate-intervention technologies. Researchers have created deliberative spaces via focus groups, group facilitations, and workshops to elicit public hopes and concerns regarding selected technologies. Deliberative exercises have revealed public preferences for approaches perceived as "natural" and identified controversy spill-overs and concerns surrounding geological storage. They have also uncovered concerns over unsustainable land use practices and delays in emissions reduction.