Governance of Radioactive Waste, Special Waste and Carbon Storage: Literacy in Dealing with Long-term Controversial Sociotechnical Issues

Description

This book demonstrates that the long-term safety of nuclear waste repositories, special waste disposal and carbon storage (CCS) is highly challenging and monitoring may contribute to substantiate evidence, support decision making and legitimise the programme. Deep geological disposal is a long-term safety issue and, in parallel, requires long-term institutional involvement of the technoscientific community, waste producers, public administrators, NGOs and the public. What, where and when to monitor is determined by its goal setting: It may be operational, confirmatory (in the near field) or environmental (far field). Strategic monitoring as proposed here contributes to process, implementation or policy and institutional surveillance. It not only addresses the controversial long-lasting “problem” (of nuclear, other toxic or CO2 waste) but investigates some ways to approach for “solutions” or solution spaces – not just technical but also institutional, societal and personal. It includes the tailored transfer of knowledge, concept and system understanding, experience and documentation to specific audiences above. It is an integrative tool of targeted yet adaptive management and may be applicable to other long-term sociotechnical fields. Preface About This Book Summary Contents Graphical Contents About the Author Abbreviations List of Figures List of Tables List of Boxes 1 Introduction: Setting the Problem(s) Abstract 1.1 What is the Problem? 1.2 Bedevilled by the Long-Term Dimension(s) 1.3 Approach: Structure of Work, Limitations and Graphical Guide 1.4 Audience: Both Practitioners and Advanced Students 1.5 Conclusion and Summary Bib1 Problems Systems From Inter- to Transdisciplinarity Nuclear Waste Conventional Toxic/Hazardous Waste Carbon Capture (‘Utilisation’) and Storage, CC(U)S BSec7 BSec8 2 Integrative Technology Assessment—Proposal for a Framework Abstract 2.1 How to Assess a Complex Technology? 2.2 Criterion #1: Need for Deployment and Comparative Benefits Vis-à-Vis Competing Technological Options 2.3 Criterion #2: Total-System Analysis and Safety Concept 2.4 Criterion #3: Dedicated Internationally Harmonised Regulation and Control 2.5 Criterion #4: Economic Aspects (Costs and Incentives) 2.6 Criterion #5: Implementation 2.7 Criterion #6: Societal Issues 2.8 Some Conclusions Bib1 Key Reference Problem Perception Technology Policy, Technology Assessment Technical Fixes, Etc. Science and Technology Studies Nuclear Waste (Extended in Chap. 5) Carbon Capture and Storage, CCS BSec8 BSec9 3 Goals—Needs, Rules and Procedures Abstract 3.1 Integrated Perspective Wanted 3.2 The Search for Reasons for Fundamental Controversies 3.3 The Search for “Common Ground” 3.4 Three-Step Approach 3.5 Conclusions and Summary Bib1 Key References Robustness, Production of Knowledge Consensus, Conflicts, Participation, Etc. Mental Models, Paradigms Sustainable Development Nuclear Waste BSec7 BSec8 4 Risk Characteristics and Evolution of (Risk and Safety) Concepts Abstract 4.1 Approach 4.2 Waste … Waste? 4.3 Long-Term Issues 4.4 System Characteristics 4.4.1 Conventional Hazardous Waste/Radioactive Waste 4.4.2 Carbon Capture and Storage 4.5 Safety Concept 4.5.1 Conventional Hazardous Waste/Radioactive Waste 4.5.2 Conventional Toxic Waste 4.5.3 Carbon Capture and Storage 4.6 “Robustness”—The Technical Answer to (Supposedly) Cover All 4.7 Conclusions and Summary Bib1 Key References Approach Radioactive Waste and Conventional Toxic Waste Carbon Capture and Storage, CCS Further Reading: Radioactive Waste Conventional Toxic Waste CCS BSec8 BSec9 5 Systems, Governance and Institutions Abstract 5.1 From Robust Technical Systems to Integral Robustness 5.2 What is “Long-Term”, Really? Definitions and Implications 5.3 From Robustness to Resilience 5.4 Excursus: COVID-19—Lessons from a Virus to Humanity 5.5 Governance 5.6 Procedure: Examples 5.7 (Instead of) Policy Evaluation: A Quick Glimpse at SWOTs 5.8 Conclusions and Summary Bib1 Key References Perspectives Governance Institutions, Learning Closure Process, Time Resilience, Adaptiveness/Adaptability Nuclear Waste, Long-term Stewardship Nuclear Waste Country Profiles Hazardous Waste CCS BSec13 BSec14 6 Strategic Monitoring Abstract 6.1 Decisions 6.1.1 What is a Decision, a Good Decision? 6.1.2 What is Decision Making, Strategic Decision Making? 6.1.3 What is Monitoring, Strategic Monitoring? 6.2 Governance Applied 6.2.1 Collective Decision Making 6.2.2 Players, Institutions 6.2.3 Rules, Procedures, Process 6.2.4 Participation 6.3 Capture, Path Dependence, Lock-Ins 6.4 “Soft Factors”: Safety Culture, Failure Culture, Organisational Culture, Culture 6.5 Conclusions and Summary Bib1 Key References Decisions, Strategies Consensus, Conflicts, Etc. Process Governance Organisations, Safety Culture, Failure Culture, Learning Trust Participation (Regulatory) Capture, Dependency, Lock-ins Nuclear Waste Social–Science Research Projects and Activities in the Nuclear Domain Conventional Toxic Waste Carbon Capture and Storage, CCS BSec14 BSec15 7 Conclusions and Outlook Abstract 7.1 Learning to Become Literate: The Ingredients 7.2 Skills for Sustainable Governance 7.3 “Organised Safety”: Leading Role of Authorities 7.4 The Road: Neither a Supreme Algorithm nor a Cookbook 7.5 Open Frontier: Tools and Roads to Explore 7.5.1 Knowledge Gathering: Platforms, etc. 7.5.2 From Participation to Open Discourse: Focus Groups 3.0., etc. 7.5.3 Outcome: MCDA 3.0. td Labs, etc. 7.5.4 Handling Uncertainties: Addressing Indeterminacy 7.5.5 Evaluation, Effectiveness, Efficiency: Before, During, After 7.5.6 Root-Cause Analysis 7.6 Above All it Needs Engagement, Respect and Trust 7.7 Overall Conclusions Bib1 Key References Normality Literacy in Critical Thinking and Science Literacy in Sustainable Development Regulator’s Role, Organised Safety Archives, Memory, Etc. Tools (and Roads to Go) Experience with Societal Dialogues BSec9 BSec10 Appendix_1 Appendix_2