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Fairness, risk and risk tolerance in the siting of a nuclear waste repository

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  • Lennart Sjöberg
  • Britt-Marie Drottz-Sjöberg

Abstract

In this paper, risk tolerance with regard to nuclear waste is investigated. It is shown that Swedish respondents did not readily accept a local high-level nuclear waste repository, contrary to claims based on polling data. The important role played in Sweden by misleading survey questions is pointed out and demonstrated on empirical data where formulations and procedures are varied. The acceptance of a local repository (measured as intention to vote in its favour in a local referendum) could not be explained well by a cost-benefit approach, neither by an individual risk perception model. Concern about the local community was an important determinant, however, and so were moral aspects. When these aspects were included in a model, about 60% of the variance of risk perception and risk acceptance was accounted for. Cultural Theory scale items, however, added virtually nothing to the explanatory power of the models. In further analyses, NIMBY respondents were identified, defined here as people who rejected a local repository in spite of having acknowledged substantial utility of nuclear power. NlMBYs constituted, however, only a small minority of all opposition to a local repository. Few respondents stated that they would accept a local repository if they were to be given financial compensation. This fact may be related to nuclear power issues being conceived as general, rather than personal, matters. Those who saw it as a politically important issue also conceived of it in general rather than personal terms.

Suggested Citation

  • Lennart Sjöberg & Britt-Marie Drottz-Sjöberg, 2001. "Fairness, risk and risk tolerance in the siting of a nuclear waste repository," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 4(1), pages 75-101, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:jriskr:v:4:y:2001:i:1:p:75-101
    DOI: 10.1080/136698701456040
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    1. Claire Marris & Ian H. Langford & Timothy O'Riordan, 1998. "A Quantitative Test of the Cultural Theory of Risk Perceptions: Comparison with the Psychometric Paradigm," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(5), pages 635-647, October.
    2. Donald W. Hine & Craig Summers & Mark Prystupa & Antoinette McKenzie‐Richer, 1997. "Public Opposition to a Proposed Nuclear Waste Repository in Canada: An Investigation of Cultural and Economic Effects," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(3), pages 293-302, June.
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    2. Jones, Christopher R. & Eiser, J. Richard, 2009. "Identifying predictors of attitudes towards local onshore wind development with reference to an English case study," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(11), pages 4604-4614, November.

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