communication and societal aspects in d&wm...
TRANSCRIPT
© SCK•CEN Academy
Tanja Perko
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
© SCK•CEN Academy
I work at Belgian nuclear research centre
BR3, Belgian Reactor 3
HADES
R&D Waste and disposal
© SCK•CEN Academy
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
© SCK•CEN Academy
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
© SCK•CEN Academy
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
© SCK•CEN Academy
Communication about D & WM
Education
Marketing practice
Empower citizens
to make
informed decisions
© SCK•CEN Academy
Demand: Communication = Public participation
© SCK•CEN Academy
Public knowledge,
perceptions,
views about
D & WM
Know your public
© SCK•CEN Academy
Public knowledge,
perceptions,
views about
D & WM
“Decommissioning???”
© SCK•CEN Academy
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.”
© SCK•CEN Academy
Public concerns about decommissioning
SCK-CEN Barometer; Turcanu C. & Perko T. 2015
© SCK•CEN Academy
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
?
© SCK•CEN Academy
D & WM in media
Costs
© SCK•CEN Academy
D & WM in media
Emergencies
© SCK•CEN Academy
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…
© SCK•CEN Academy
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
© SCK•CEN Academy
- 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)
© SCK•CEN Academy
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
© SCK•CEN Academy
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/
© SCK•CEN Academy
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
© SCK•CEN Academy
Knack: 3 FEBRUARI 2016
© SCK•CEN Academy
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
© SCK•CEN Academy
Know your public
N= 1028 SCK-CEN Barometer; Turcanu C. & Perko T. 2015
© SCK•CEN Academy
Know your public
N= 1028 SCK-CEN Barometer; Turcanu C. & Perko T. 2015
© SCK•CEN Academy
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
© SCK•CEN Academy
Demand: Communication = Public participation
© SCK•CEN Academy
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
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
© SCK•CEN Academy
Example Event 1
© SCK•CEN Academy
BR3
=Cultuurreactor
50 years after
going in to
operation
Example
Event 2
© SCK•CEN Academy
Many communication channels
Personal communication:
Open-door days
Excursions …
Media:
TV
Radio
Newspapers
Web page …
New media:
other social networking
© SCK•CEN Academy
Digital TV
can be one of
the
communication
channels
© SCK•CEN Academy
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-+.
© SCK•CEN Academy
What influences peoples trust?
hhh
Empathy
and caring
50 %
Competence
, expertise
15-20%
Dedication,
commitment
15-20%
Honesty,
openness 15-
20%
Renn & Levine, 1991
© SCK•CEN Academy
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
© SCK•CEN Academy
Impact on the audience
E. Jensen, 1996
© SCK•CEN Academy
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.