Public Perception and Acceptance of Nuclear Power: Stakeholder Issues and Community Solutions

Date:

4 August 2020

Category:

Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Urban Development

Type:

Research Project Reports

Authors:

Tomoko Murakami, Venkatachalam Anbumozhi, Kenji Kimura, Takehiro Iwata, Emiri Yokota, Tomofumi Shibata

Editors:

Tomoko Murakami, Venkatachalam Anbumozhi

Tags:

nuclear, Public Lecture, energy, japan

Print Article:

All over the world, public acceptance of nuclear power is a crucial factor in decisions on public and private investment in nuclear power plants. Therefore, it is important to understand the determinants of public acceptance of nuclear power and the driving factors behind individual perceptions. This report examines the effects of local economic benefits, social inclusion, and effective communication on risk management. In Finland, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, through field visits and interactive workshops, different levels of stakeholder acceptance and related driving factors to effect changes in perceptions are identified. Local economic wealth creation, lower cost of generating electricity, and low-carbon energy provision appear to have the strongest positive effect on public acceptance of nuclear power. The report also identifies and recommends an effective communication and risk sharing mechanism amongst sub-regional authorities and non-governmental organisations that could lead to positive changes in community perception.