Nuclear power and public acceptance
Public acceptance is a decisive factor of growing importance, although economics has been and will remain the most decisive factor in ordering new nuclear capacity. Nuclear energy can make an important contribution toward preventing and reducing the greenhouse effect. Many politicians tend to base their decisions not on facts but rather on so called public opinion and consequently to overreact in particular on environmental issues. The entire debate hinges on public confidence rather than on a lack of information. There is no 100% guarantee that technical facilities will operate completely accident-free. Therefore, standards should be harmonized, plants should be operated safely and consequences of possible accidents should be limited. There needs to be some kind of early information system between countries concerning upcoming issues as a prerequisite for acting instead of reacting, because this is an essential tool in convincing the public that they can have more confidence. Technical information alone does not answer the real questions of the public. Political, technical, and economic matters as well as public opinion are interwoven and cannot be separated from each. Therefore, the exchange of experience gained in all these sectors on an international basis must be improved.
- OSTI ID:
- 5488413
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8810179-; CODEN: TANSA; TRN: 89-027935
- Journal Information:
- Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA), Vol. 58; Conference: International conference on nuclear fission: fifty years of progress in energy security, Washington, DC (USA), 30 Oct - 4 Nov 1988; ISSN 0003-018X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
POLICY AND ECONOMY
NUCLEAR POWER
PUBLIC OPINION
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ELECTRICITY
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
FUEL REPROCESSING PLANTS
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
INFORMATION
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
POLITICAL ASPECTS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
SAFETY
STANDARDS
TECHNOLOGY IMPACTS
ACCIDENTS
COOPERATION
EUROPE
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
MANAGEMENT
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
POWER
POWER PLANTS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TREATIES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WESTERN EUROPE
290600* - Energy Planning & Policy- Nuclear Energy