communication and societal aspects in d&wm...

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Tanja Perko

tpreko@sckcen.be

Communication and societal aspects in

D&WM programs

8th edition of the International Summer School on Nuclear Decommissioning and Waste Management;

Ispra, 13. Sept. 2016

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I work at Belgian nuclear research centre

BR3, Belgian Reactor 3

HADES

R&D Waste and disposal

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I work at Belgian nuclear research centre

What is risk?

What risk is acceptable?

What are the ethical implications of

problem framing and problem solving?

What is the normative basis for

participation?

How can participation be (successfully) put

into practice?

How and what do we communicate?

What is the role of the scientist?

How is science policy made?

…

BR3, Belgian Reactor 3

HADES

R&D Waste and disposal

Programme on

Integration of Social Aspects

into nuclear research

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I am a social and political scientist PhD: Risk communication and Perception in nuclear emergency

Ex – Journalist

Head of PR at Ministry of defense

Researcher at SCK•CEN and University of Antwerp

Firefighter with CBRN specialisation

Practice

Research

Application

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Learning objectives of this lecture

To know more about public opinion, knowledge, views related to

D&WM;

To learn some the characteristics of D&WM communication;

To link communication with stakeholder engagement;

To recognize, that communication is your job

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Communication about D & WM

Education

Marketing practice

Empower citizens

to make

informed decisions

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Demand: Communication = Public participation

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Public knowledge,

perceptions,

views about

D & WM

Know your public

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Public knowledge,

perceptions,

views about

D & WM

“Decommissioning???”

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Public knowledge,

perceptions,

views about

D & WM

“Decommissioning???”

“After their operational time is finished,

the nuclear power plants must be decommissioned.

This process is the removal of radioactivity from the installation

up to the level where control is not necessary any more.”

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Public concerns about decommissioning

SCK-CEN Barometer; Turcanu C. & Perko T. 2015

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Public concerns about decommissioning

Although most of the reactors in Belgium are already approaching the end

of their operation time,

people are not concerned with what happens with a nuclear power

plant after it is shut down.

What happens with a NPP after is shut down?

SCK-CEN Barometer; Turcanu C. & Perko T. 2015

?

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D & WM in media

Costs

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D & WM in media

Emergencies

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Internal comm.

Small fire in BR3 on 27th of November

SCK-CEN confirms …

small fire…dismantled

reactor

SCK-CEN fire brigade and

the one from Mol…

extinguished … No-one

hurt… cause investigated

No radiological impact

…measurements normal

BR3 information

More information…

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Internal comm.

Small fire in BR3 on 27th of November

SCK-CEN confirms …

small fire…dismantled

reactor

SCK-CEN fire brigade and

the one from Mol…

extinguished … No-one

hurt… cause investigated

No radiological impact

…measurements normal

BR3 information

More information…

- Timing (don’t wait for more information and translations)

- First communicate internally (Exceptions are possible; e.g. mayor)

- Design your messages (E.g. small fire)

- Share general context information (It has to be prepared in advance)

- Roles and responsibilities have to be known and trained

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- You have to start

communicating with the

media, don’t wait to be asked

- Make visual information

available

- Communicate to a press

agency, new media…

Mass media

Wrong photo

“Small fire in the

building of BR3

extinguished. There is

no radiological risks for

environment.”

(SCK-CEN)

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Risk communication

A short term communication:

increases awareness of (protective) actions,

Improves understanding of decommissioning or waste

management,

improves the population response in a case of an emergency.

A medium or a long term communication:

facilitates the remediation process

facilitates the decommissioning

facilitates the nuclear waste management

and supports the return to normal life

Mass media

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D&WM is not only a technical (scientific) process

Influence of social and political factors on:

decommissioning strategy,

plans and

costs.

Has to be communicated

Source: Decommissioning Nuclear Power Plants; Policies, Strategies and Costs, Nuclear Development

N U C L E A R • E N E R G Y • A G E N C Y , OECD (2003)

Source: http://nuclear-news.net/

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Tell people clearly

what you are doing;

when you will do it;

when decisions will be taken and the level of public involvement.

If you don’t know these things, let people know this too. *

(There is a risk that people think things are happening but are

covered in secrecy or that they are being excluded.)

Communication plan

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Knack: 3 FEBRUARI 2016

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Communication plan ties in with clarity over roles and responsibilities

Before decommissioning:

What do we mean by decommissioning?

When does decommissioning happen?

What is not decommissioning?

What are principles for successful decommissioning?

What are pre-conditions for successful decommissioning?

Working with locals, NGOs…

Avoid:

Infrequent, inconsistent, incorrect and poorly timed communication

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Know your public

N= 1028 SCK-CEN Barometer; Turcanu C. & Perko T. 2015

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Know your public

N= 1028 SCK-CEN Barometer; Turcanu C. & Perko T. 2015

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What people think, know about decommissioning?

The majority of the public (about 70%) thinks that the site

will remain dangerous after decommissioning for many

decades.

60 % of respondents wrongly believe that Belgium has

nuclear power plants that are currently being

decommissioned.

There is more confidence in the availability of

technology needed for decommissioning than in the

available expertise.

SCK-CEN Barometer; Turcanu C. & Perko T. 2015

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Demand: Communication = Public participation

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Many levels of communication

Internal communication – the first stage to a sound

communication

Know all partners involved in decommissioning and waste management.

Share the information among partners.

One message – many voices.

External communication – a big challenge for the experts

Many stakeholders.

Integration in the environment (transport).

Develop skills and tools to communicate.

Media communication – A bridge between you and a population

Low newsworthiness (develop a relationship)

Media training needed

.

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Every second person is your potential public!

To what extent would you like to participate in the decision-making concerning the decommissioning of

nuclear power plants?

44.26

26.46

18.87

4.383.60 2.43

I don’t want to participate

I want to receive informationabout the plant to bedecommissioned

I want to receive informationand express my opinion

I want to participate in adialogue towards a decision

I want to be an active partner indecision-making

Don't know/no answer

N= 1028 SCK-CEN Barometer; Turcanu C. & Perko T. 2015

© SCK•CEN Academy

What do you communicate?

The nature of the decommissioning or waste management.

Different options and solutions.

Impacts/risks/benefits that a selected option might have on

the community.

Risks to human health and the environment

… (respond to peoples’ concerns, needs and views)

SCK-CEN Barometer; Turcanu C. & Perko T. 2015

© SCK•CEN Academy

What do you communicate?

The nature of the decommissioning or waste management.

Different options and solutions.

Impacts/risks/benefits that a selected option might have on

the community.

Risks to human health and the environment

… (respond to peoples concerns, needs and views)

SCK-CEN Barometer; Turcanu C. & Perko T. 2015

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Example Event 1

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BR3

=Cultuurreactor

50 years after

going in to

operation

Example

Event 2

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Many communication channels

Personal communication:

Open-door days

Excursions …

Media:

TV

Radio

Newspapers

Web page …

New media:

Facebook

Twitter

other social networking

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Digital TV

can be one of

the

communication

channels

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Many levels of communication

Internal communication – the first stage to a sound

communication

Know all partners involved in decommissioning and waste management.

Share the information among partners.

One message – many voices.

External communication – a big challenge for the experts

Many stakeholders.

Integration in the environment (transport).

Develop skills and tools to communicate.

Media communication – A bridge between you and a population

Low newsworthiness (develop a relationship)

Media training needed

.

© SCK•CEN Academy

How to build trustworthy communication about D & WM?

Select people to communicate that are “close” (living in area, use

same language …)

Train experts to communicate

Don’t change the communicators during key processes – they

have to be recognized

Listen to people’s concerns

Resolve people’s concern (adopt process to people)

Admit uncertainties, problems …

Develop responsible relationship, trust.

Additional reading:

• Sjöberg L. Local acceptance of a high-level nuclear waste repository. Risk

Analysis. 2004 Jun;24(3):737-49.

• Renn O. The role of stakeholder involvement in risk communication. Atw-

International Journal for Nuclear Power. 2004 Oct;49(10):602-+.

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What influences peoples trust?

hhh

Empathy

and caring

50 %

Competence

, expertise

15-20%

Dedication,

commitment

15-20%

Honesty,

openness 15-

20%

Renn & Levine, 1991

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In a stressful situation is a perfect message :

Simple and understandable (avoid jargon and complex terms)

Meet people’s needs and concerns

Brief, concise and clear

27 words, 9 seconds, 3 key messages

P. Covello, ,1988

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Impact on the audience

E. Jensen, 1996

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What I would like you to take home from this presentation

Communication is a MUST and is your job.

Successful risk communication = long term communication,

stakeholder engagement.

Long term communication is complex due to low interest and

limited knowledge of a public.

Make people interested in your work and

enjoy in your communication.