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Related Topic: Public Opinion

Viewpoint: Recalibrating nuclear risk

Viewpoint: Recalibrating nuclear risk

Life is a risky business. We are exposed to an unending cascade of risks, with some deemed “worse” than others, writes John Lindberg of World Nuclear Association. Since the 1970s, a considerable amount of psychological research dedicated to understanding why we often ignore some of the statistically biggest risks (e.g. driving, smoking), whilst fearing some of the smallest (e.g. nuclear power), has concluded that factors such as emotions, mental imagery, and trust, are central to the way we assess risks. Few risks elicit as strong a response as radiation, especially when in connection with nuclear power, largely thanks to its invisibility, links with cancer, and media portrayals.

Perspectives 27 May 2021

Magnox Inquiry concludes NDA had 'optimism bias'

Magnox Inquiry concludes NDA had 'optimism bias'

The final report of an independent inquiry into the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's award of the Magnox decommissioning contract, related litigation and its subsequent termination has been published. Led by Steve Holliday, a former CEO of National Grid, the process to hold the Magnox Inquiry began in March 2017. Holliday was asked to conduct an inquiry by Greg Clark, then secretary of state for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Corporate 05 March 2021

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Viewpoint: Recalibrating nuclear risk

US public opinion evenly split on nuclear

Taiwan government maintains nuclear phase-out

Magnox Inquiry concludes NDA had 'optimism bias'

Viewpoint: Ontario's nuclear advantage

French public sees continued use of nuclear energy

Swedish support for nuclear continues to grow, poll shows

Swedish municipality gives approval for fuel repository

Italy begins search for national radwaste storage site

Italy begins search for national radwaste storage site

Italy begins search for national radwaste storage site

A list of 67 potential sites for a radioactive waste storage facility has been published by Societa Gestione Impianti Nucleari SpA, the Italian state-owned company responsible for dismantling the country's nuclear power plants. The publication of the list on 5 January, announced in five national newspapers, started a period of public consultation.

Waste & Recycling 29 January 2021

Biden sets out climate action plan

Biden sets out climate action plan

US President Joe Biden yesterday signed executive orders to follow through on his promise to take aggressive action to tackle climate change and build on the executive actions that he took on his first day in office, including re-joining the Paris Agreement and the immediate review of "harmful rollbacks" of environmental standards under his predecessor Donald Trump. Meanwhile, a UN survey has found that almost two-thirds of people around the world now view climate change as a global emergency.

Energy & Environment 28 January 2021

Polish group calls on Germany to reverse nuclear phaseout

Polish group calls on Germany to reverse nuclear phaseout

Polish climate and environmental activists are asking Germany to reconsider its 2011 decision to phase out nuclear power. On 18 December, activists from the FOTA4Climate initiative submitted to the German embassy in Warsaw an open letter signed by Polish scientists, intellectuals, activists and citizens.

Nuclear Policies 22 December 2020

Japanese high-level waste repository studies begin

Japanese high-level waste repository studies begin

Japan's Nuclear Waste Management Organisation has begun the initial stage of assessing two municipalities in Hokkaido Prefecture for their suitability to host a final disposal facility for high-level radioactive waste. This marks the first time such preliminary surveys have ever been conducted in the country.

Waste & Recycling 18 November 2020

Local consent clears way for restart of Onagawa 2

Local consent clears way for restart of Onagawa 2

Tohoku Electric Power Company today received approval from Murai Yoshihiro, the governor of Miyagi Prefecture, to restart unit 2 of its Onagawa nuclear plant in the northeastern Japan prefecture. The utility aims to restart the 796 MWe boiling water reactor in fiscal 2022 at the earliest.

Regulation & Safety 11 November 2020

Swedish municipality gives approval for fuel repository

Swedish municipality gives approval for fuel repository

In what Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB describes as a "historic decision", the municipal council of Östhammar yesterday voted in favour of its planned repository for used nuclear fuel at Forsmark. The final decision to authorise the project will now be made by the Swedish government.

Waste & Recycling 14 October 2020

Cost and communication vital to reap nuclear benefits, panel finds

Cost and communication vital to reap nuclear benefits, panel finds

Nuclear power programmes can benefit society through the creation of high-quality employment opportunities while providing secure, reliable energy supplies, but the industry must make sure it engages in open and transparent communications with stakeholders, as well as being cost-competitive with all other forms of generation, if those benefits are to be realised. These were the feelings from an international high-level panel of nuclear industry and academic experts at World Nuclear Association's Strategic eForum 2020.

Energy & Environment 15 September 2020

Investor confidence relies on public acceptance of nuclear

Investor confidence relies on public acceptance of nuclear

Driving investment towards nuclear energy projects depends strongly on the perception and evaluation of the costs associated with them, Leonam dos Santos Guimarães, CEO of Eletronuclear, told participants in World Nuclear Association's Strategic eForum last week. Brazil has two nuclear reactors generating about 3% of its electricity, but construction of a third is currently stalled.

Nuclear Policies 14 September 2020