TRACK 6: PUBLIC AND NON-NUCLEAR STAKEHOLDERS’

Chairpersons: R. Whittleston (United Kingdom)

C. Nahon (France)

5.6.1. Parallel Technical Session 6a: National insights into public perception The summaries of presentations and discussions in Session 6a are given below.

L. Alkawass (Austria): ‘Lebanese public opinion on nuclear power’.

This presentation reported on a web based survey developed to assess public opinion on the Lebanese national energy strategy and the possible introduction of nuclear power in Lebanon.

It was noted that in order for Lebanon to realistically consider a nuclear power programme in the future, it would have to take into account the results of the survey, which indicated a need to strengthen the public’s nuclear knowledge through education, outreach programmes and effective media coverage.

Y. Anpilova (Ukraine): ‘Nuclear energy and public opinion in Ukraine’.

This presentation discussed nuclear energy and public opinion in Ukraine, a country heavily dependent on nuclear energy. It was noted that public opinion on nuclear power is changeable and easily influenced. Surveys in Ukraine show a direct correlation between being informed about the benefits of nuclear power and the public’s favourable attitudes.

H. Cheerathadayan (India): ‘Environment, nuclear power and people’s movement: India’s triangular dilemma’.

This presentation reported on the obstacles facing India’s nuclear power infrastructure, focusing on the country’s need for nuclear power, the environment and climate change, and the implications of public perception of nuclear power projects.

M. Ritonga (Indonesia): ‘The role of teachers on forming people’s perception on nuclear energy in Indonesia’.

This presentation reported on the importance of the role of teachers in forming public perception of nuclear power in Indonesia. There was a need for teachers to be supported by the Ministry of Education and Culture to develop suitable curriculums, be appropriately trained, and have access to reference materials on nuclear power.

S. Roth (Sweden): The presentation discussed public communication at the back end in Sweden, with a focus on local perception of spent nuclear fuel and waste management. It was noted that there has been 40 years of research and development in Sweden on the back end, which needs a combination of siting, a technical solution, and public trust and acceptance.

5.6.2. Parallel Technical Session 6b: Strategies and initiatives on channels of communication

Chairpersons: F. Puente Espel (Mexico) A. Stott (IAEA)

The summaries of presentations and discussions in Session 6b are given below.

L. Shasko (Canada): ‘Innovating the bridge building elements of ‘reluctant acceptance’.’

The presentation reported on the concept of ‘reluctant acceptance’, which explores acceptance of nuclear power framed in the context of climate change risk. It allows survey respondents an option to express objections to nuclear power while also recognizing a reluctant acceptance of it in light of the competing threat of climate change. The potential was noted for the reluctant acceptance concept to be widened to support a more robust, two sided conversation on nuclear power and climate change. Doing so may open new channels of communication with stakeholders on their perception of the role of nuclear power in climate change mitigation.

C. Grundy (UK): ‘Dialogue study public perception for advanced nuclear technologies including SMRs and AMRs’.

This presentation highlighted the importance of societal awareness of developments in nuclear power technologies in achieving the UK’s goals of ensuring sustainable, affordable and low carbon energy for decades to come. Public bodies have identified principles, adopted strategies and signed concordats with recommendations for public engagement, including: committing to best practice; valuing the core principles of trust; clarity; dialogue and consultation; and encouraging and supporting the nuclear workforce to engage with the public and act as ambassadors for the industry.

E. Langegger (Austria): ‘The Nuclear4Climate Initiative: Lessons learned from grassroots campaign’.

This presentation reported on the design, kick-off, activities and future of the Nuclear4Climate campaign which was initiated by the French Nuclear Society in 2014. The campaign produces position papers with key messages and communication activities on social media and with video production. Nuclear4Climate has been presented at each COP climate conference since its launch, with side events, booths and engagement with different stakeholder groups.

L. Beltran (Mexico): This presentation focused on the shared socioeconomic pathways framework, its application to the energy sector, and its utilization in a particular geographical location, namely Mexico. The framework consists of a narrative outlining broad characteristics of the global future and country level population, GDP, and urbanization projections.

5.6.3. Parallel Technical Session 6c: Novel approaches to nuclear communication Chairpersons: G. Thomas, (United Kingdom)

L. Berthelot (IAEA)

The summaries of presentations and discussions in Session 6c are given below.

C. Ringenbach (France): ‘The climate collage: Original and effective way to explain climate change widely for non-scientific people’.

The presentation discussed the ‘Climate Collage’ game, which is described as a fun, participatory and creative workshop on climate change. It is an educational tool based on collective intelligence and emphasizing the cause–effect links between the various components of climate change. The workshop explains how the climate functions and the consequences of its disruption, and highlights the complexity of climate change, while enabling players to develop their own complete picture of climate change.

N. Davydova (Russian Federation): ‘Public involvement in the discussion on nuclear energy, the environment and climate change: The case of the ROSATOM Public Council’s Project

“Green Square”.’

This presentation reported on the Rosatom Public Council’s Project ‘Green Square’, which serves as a platform for public involvement in the discussion on nuclear power, the environment and climate change. It was noted that science education and, in particular, on the environment, can form an ecological culture, reduce radiophobia, and increase public awareness of nuclear power.

S. Rasmeni (South Africa): ‘Addressing the public perception on the role of nuclear power in climate change reduction through educational awareness and collaboration’.

Effectively communicating science to a variety of audiences remains an obstacle to the public acceptance of nuclear technology. The presentation offered ways of communicating science through different public platforms, including by building partnerships between science and social science communities to address perceptions.

B. Kugelmass (USA): ‘True Reversal of Climate Change Requires Nuclear Energy’.

The presentation discussed how solving climate change requires far more than the total elimination of annual greenhouse gas emissions. The complete decarbonization of electricity, agriculture, transportation, building heat, and industrial sectors may reduce the rate at which we accumulate heat, but it will have no impact on the previous emissions that already, and will continue to, cause the majority of radiative forcing. A pathway was proposed towards global scale removal of greenhouse gas and a description provided on how deploying nuclear energy at scale can power the transition to a global carbon negative economy in a way that aligns short term individual economic motivations with long term environmental preservation.