A Study on Consensus Development through Stakeholder Engagement for the Use of Nuclear Energy in Japan

摘要

In order to alleviate the distrust surrounding the use of nuclear energy and operation of nuclearfacilities, as well as to foster trust and find better ways to live in harmony with society, it is essential for the stateand electric power utilities not to provide one-sided information, but to formulate adequate bilateralcommunication and dialogue with stakeholders. In this study, we conducted a case study focused on fourstakeholder meetings with a view to ensuring safety in the use of nuclear energy and operation of nuclearfacilities in Japan; the "Community Meeting for Securing the Transparency of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa NuclearPower Station (Chiiki-no-kai)"; the "Monitoring & Evaluation Conference on Environmental Radiation",established by communities where nuclear facilities are installed; the "Round-Table Conference on NuclearPower Policy" and the "Conference for Public Participation and Decision Making for Nuclear Energy Policy"organized by Japan Atomic Energy Commission. As a consequence, it has been observed that in each casevarying opinions were summarized through stakeholder meetings, but the fact that no system exists to reflectthese opinions in design of the nuclear energy policy has emerged as a controversial point. This study suggestsfuture efforts in regard to the requirements in Japan for stakeholder meetings that are necessary for fostering trustand mutual understanding among stakeholders including the state and local government, electric power utilitiesand local residents.