The importance of trust in environmental risk communication: the case of LILW repository site selection in Slovenia
Darinka Drapal, Mojca Drevenšek (PR’P Communications Consultancy) Metka Kralj (ARAO - Agency for Radwaste Management)
Draft paper for the SRA–Europe conference: “Innovation and Technical Progress: Benefit without Risk?” Ljubljana 11 – 13 September 2006
A three-part presentation
Part 1: environment, perception of environmental issues… Part 2: Slovenia and radioactive waste Part 3: case study local partnership in the LILW repository site selection
The attitudes towards the environment
Q: “In general, how informed do you feel about environmental issues?”
71% of Slovene citizens feel „very well‟ or at least „well‟ informed about environmental issues
What does that mean? What is the definition of „being informed‟?
Source: Eurobarometer - “The attitudes of European citizens towards the environment, 2005
The attitudes towards radioactive waste
Q: “How well informed do you think you are about radioactive waste?” 46% of Slovenes feel very well informed about radioactive waste
Source: Eurobarometer - “Radioactive waste”, 2005
Who do you trust most when it comes to (a) environmental issues and (b) radioactive waste management in your country?
Most:
Environmetal protection associations Scientist TV
Least:
Companies Trade unions Radio
Sources: Eurobarometer - “The attitudes of European citizens towards the environment”, 2005, and Eurobarometer – “Radioactive waste”, 2005
What is so different today?
Trust in organizations (companies, decisionmakers, media etc.) is declining. Publics have better access to information. Publics have a right to participate in environmental decision-making…
Charlie Chaplin: Modern Times (1936)
Three components of trust
Honesty
(knowledge, competency etc.)
Expertise
(openess, objectivity etc.)
The components of trust
Covello (1992) Kasperson (1991) Peters et al. (1997) Renn and Levine (1991)
(empathy, consistency etc.)
Caring
Slovenia and radioactive waste
Sources of radioactive waste
1 NPP: Krško Nuclear Power Plant small producers: medicine, research activities, industry
Role of ARAO Public opinion researched since 1995…
Short chronological overview
First preliminary studies: before NPP went into operation 1990 – 1993: the siting process suspended in its final phase; strong dissaproval within local communities – mainly due to lack of information/communication Project continuation estimated as not feasible! ARAO assigned to start a new site selection process Key lesson learned: public acceptance = crucial element
Q1: “People in Slovenia benefit from the use of nuclear technologies.”
40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 sploh se ne strinjam niti se strinjam niti se ne strinjam popolnoma se strinjam trend (sploh se ne strinjam) trend (ne strinjam se) ne strinjam se strinjam se trend (niti niti) trend (popolnoma se strinjam) trend (strinjam se)
Source: ARAO/Ninamedia, 2005.
Q2: “Dealing with radioactive waste is a serious problem in Slovenia.”
40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 sploh se ne strinjam niti se strinjam niti se ne strinjam popolnoma se strinjam trend (sploh se ne strinjam) trend (ne strinjam se) ne strinjam se strinjam se trend (niti niti) trend (popolnoma se strinjam) trend (strinjam se)
Source: ARAO/Ninamedia, 2005.
Q3: “In Slovenia, we have to take care for the repositing of our own radioactive waste.”
80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 sploh se ne strinjam niti se strinjam niti se ne strinjam popolnoma se strinjam trend (popolnoma se strinjam) ne strinjam se strinjam se trend (strinjam se)
Source: ARAO/Ninamedia, 2005.
Q4: “Because we produce radioactive waste in Slovenia, we urgently need an appropriate repository for them.”
90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 sploh se ne strinjam niti se strinjam niti se ne strinjam popolnoma se strinjam trend (strinjam se) ne strinjam se strinjam se trend (popolnoma se strinjam)
Source: ARAO/Ninamedia, 2005.
Q5: Who should make the final decision regarding the construction of radioactive waste repository in Slovenia?
45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
vlada strokovnjaki vsi prebivalci Slovenije na referendumu ekologi vsi trend (strokovnjaki) trend (vlada)
državni zbor krajani območja, na katerem bo odlagališče kdo drug ne vem, neodločen, b.o. trend (referendum) trend (krajani) trend (parlament)
Source: ARAO/Ninamedia, 2005.
How to establish and maintain trust?
Honesty
(knowledge, competency etc.)
Expertise
(openess, objectivity etc.)
The components of trust
Covello (1992) Kasperson (1991) Peters et al. (1997) Renn and Levine (1991)
(empathy, consistency etc.)
Caring
Possible answer: through a local partnership
Principles:
Equality of partners Transparency Opennes Honesty Professional credibility Tolerance Respecting the opinions of others etc.
Local partnership – goals
Three groups of goals:
Information and communication
Public participation in the decisionmaking process Building and increasing trust and facilitating dialogue
Local parnership – partners
Three partners:
local community – citizens, everyone interested to directly or indirectly take part in the local partnership, ARAO - Agency for Radwaste Management (as the representative of the investor, the Republic of Slovenia), Municipality Krško - the local decisionmakers.
Organizational structure
The coordinating committee (5 working groups) The national advisory board
The secretariat
Sustainable development Restricted land use
Aarhus Convention
Environment
Technical cooperation
Assembly of all (5) working groups
Cross-cutting themes
Internal communication External communication (www.partnerstvo.si, local media etc.) Financial viewpoint How can we (really) participate in the decision-making process? To what extent? Respect for minority opinions Collision of interests (Who are you?, Where do you come from?)
Thank you for your attention!
Comments, ideas, comparisons, suggestions…
…are more than wellcome!
Mojca Drevenšek (mojca.drevensek@prp-dd.si) Darinka Drapal (darinka.drapal@prp-dd.si) Metka Kralj (metka.kralj@gov.si)