Nuclear energy and the public : risk perception, attitudes and behaviour (original) (raw)
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2014
The preferences expressed in voting on nuclear reactor licenses and the risk perceptions of citizens provide insights into social costs of nuclear power and decision making in energy policy. We introduce an analytical model which shows that where people's risk perceptions affect their stand on nuclear power, a perceived probability of accident results in external costs. These costs consist of disutility caused by unnecessary anxiety -due to misperceived risks relating to existing reactors -and where licenses for new nuclear reactors are not granted, delayed or totally lost energy production. Empirical evidence is derived from Finnish surveys eliciting explicitly the significance of risk perceptions in respondents' preferences regarding nuclear power and their views on its environmental and economic impacts. Various model specifications show that the estimated marginal impact of a high perceived risk of nuclear accident is statistically significant and that such a perception considerably decreases the probability of a person supporting nuclear power. The public's risk perceptions translate into a significant social cost, and are likely to affect the revenues, costs and financing conditions in the nuclear power sector in the future.
Public perceptions of the future of nuclear energy
1985
What can politicians and energy planners learn from the results of our study? First, it became obvious that the nuclear controversy has not yet come to an end. Most people still feel concerned about nuclear energy, and quite a considerable percentage of our sample expressed their readiness to protest against further expansion of the nuclear programme. Secondly, a vast majority of the sample expressed their willingness to accept a moderate expansion of the nuclear power programme, provided that a satisfactory solution to the problem of waste disposal can be achieved. Thirdly, with respect to public information programmes, our planning cell experiments proved that information containing arguments for or against nuclear power still has an impact on public attitudes. In spite of the fact that most people have developed a rather stable point of view in the nuclear controversy, and are usually not willing to change their overall attitude, the exchange of information during the planning-ce...
Dimming Hopes for Nuclear Power: Quantifying the Social Costs of Perceptions of Risks
SSRN Electronic Journal, 2000
The preferences expressed in voting on nuclear reactor licenses and the risk perceptions of citizens provide insights into social costs of nuclear power and decision making in energy policy. We introduce an analytical model which shows that where people's risk perceptions affect their stand on nuclear power, a perceived probability of accident results in external costs. These costs consist of disutility caused by unnecessary anxiety -due to misperceived risks relating to existing reactors -and where licenses for new nuclear reactors are not granted, delayed or totally lost energy production. Empirical evidence is derived from Finnish surveys eliciting explicitly the significance of risk perceptions in respondents' preferences regarding nuclear power and their views on its environmental and economic impacts. Various model specifications show that the estimated marginal impact of a high perceived risk of nuclear accident is statistically significant and that such a perception considerably decreases the probability of a person supporting nuclear power. The public's risk perceptions translate into a significant social cost, and are likely to affect the revenues, costs and financing conditions in the nuclear power sector in the future.
Sociopolitical aspects of nuclear energy
1984
Since the technical risk and the perception of risk towards nuclear energy in particular is an important factor for the acceptance of nuclear energy we try to elaborate this topic in some detail. Further it is necessary to evaluate values associated with energy production in order to concentrate on essentials when introducing nuclear energy into to energy system of a country. It is, moreover, helpful to show the differences in attitudes towards nuclear energy in industrialized and developing countries, and finally to present a review of public attitudes towards nuclear energy in German'y since the end of World War II. It may be possible to take advantage of the experience gained in our country. As a result of these investigations we present a proposal for a special programme for information and education to facilitate the introduction of nuclear energy in developing countries and to create a level of acceptance which is necessary for this step of development in the field of ener...
Peoples’ Perception towards Nuclear Energy
Energies
Perception towards nuclear energy is a vital factor determining the success or failure of nuclear projects. An online survey obtained attitudes toward nuclear energy, opinions on whether benefits of nuclear energy outweigh the risks, and views of using nuclear energy as an energy source. A total of 4318 participants from across the U.S. completed the survey. Logistic regression was used to predict perceptions of nuclear energy by participant demographics and geographical location. Participants living closest to Idaho National Laboratory (INL) were more likely to have positive attitudes towards nuclear energy (aOR: 7.18, p < 0.001), believe the benefits were greater than the risks (aOR: 4.90, p < 0.001), and have positive attitudes toward using nuclear energy as an electricity source (aOR: 5.70, p < 0.001), compared to people living farther from INL. Males and non-Hispanic white participants were more likely to have positive perceptions of nuclear energy. Developing and impl...
Opinion polls show that public support for nuclear power has declined since the Fukushima crisis began, not only in Japan but also in other nations around the world. People oppose nuclear power for a variety of reasons, but the predominant concern is the perception that it is a risky technology. Some communities that are closely associated with it even suffer from stigmatization. The nuclear industry has tried a variety of strategies to break down public resistance to nuclear powerÑincluding information campaigns, risk comparisons, and efforts to promote nuclear power as a solution to climate change. None of these strategies has worked well, mostly because the public lacks trust in the nuclear industry. Public resistance to nuclear power is likely to continue, making it difficult to site and build new reactors. This resistance may be a major obstacle to the rapid expansion of nuclear power.
Acknowledgments: This article have been presented at the seminar series of the University of Twente and at the second EPSA general conference (June 2012, Berlin). I am particularly indebted to Sebastian Jäckle, Soo Yeon Kim, Emmanuelle Mathieu, Martin Rosema, Josine Verhagen and Andreas Warntjen for their useful comments. Keywords: public opinion, attitudes, policy, Europe
Knowledge, risk, and policy support: Public perceptions of nuclear power
Energy Policy, 2013
Paper evaluates US public support for nuclear energy1 year after Fukushima tragedy. Attitudinal indicators are significant predictors of nuclear power policy support. People more knowledgeable about energy issues are more supportive of nuclear energy. Perceptions of risk exert varying influence on support for nuclear power. Specific attitude and risk indicators permit nuanced insight into their influence.
The future of nuclear power: Value orientations and risk perception
2009
Since the turn of the 21st century, there has been a revival of interest in nuclear power. Two decades ago, the expansion of nuclear power in the United States was halted by widespread public opposition as well as rising costs and less than projected increases in demand for electricity. Can the renewed enthusiasm for nuclear power overcome its history of public resistance that has persisted for decades?