Factors Affecting Public and Political Acceptance for the Implementation of Geological Disposal

The main objective of this report is to identify conditions which affect public concern (either
increase or decrease) and political acceptance for developing and implementing programmes
for geologic disposal of long-lived radioactive waste. It also looks how citizens and relevant
actors can be associated in the decision making process in such a way that their input is
enriching the outcome towards a more socially robust and sustainable solution. Finally, it
aims at learning from the interaction how to optimise risk management addressing needs and
expectations of the public and of other relevant stakeholders.
In order to meet these objectives, factors of relevance for societal acceptance conditions are
identified, described and analysed. Subsequently these factors are looked for in the real world
of nuclear waste management through cases in several countries. The diversity of
characteristics of such contexts — institutional frameworks/ cultural traditions — increases
insight in the way society and values of reference are influencing technological decision
making. These interrelated factors need to be integrated in step by step decision making
processes as emerging the last years in HLW disposal management.