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, decision-makers, 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

The components of trust

Expertise(knowledge,

competency etc.)

Caring (empathy,

consistency etc.)

Honesty (openess,

objectivity etc.)

Covello (1992)Kasperson (1991)Peters et al. (1997)Renn and Levine (1991)

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.”

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

sploh se ne strinjam ne strinjam seniti se strinjam niti se ne strinjam strinjam se popolnoma se strinjam trend (niti niti)trend (sploh se ne strinjam) trend (popolnoma se strinjam)trend (ne strinjam se) trend (strinjam se)

Source: ARAO/Ninamedia, 2005.

Q2: “Dealing with radioactive waste is a serious problem in Slovenia.”

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

sploh se ne strinjam ne strinjam seniti se strinjam niti se ne strinjam strinjam se popolnoma se strinjam trend (niti niti)trend (sploh se ne strinjam) trend (popolnoma se strinjam)trend (ne strinjam se) trend (strinjam se)

Source: ARAO/Ninamedia, 2005.

Q3: “In Slovenia, we have to take care for the repositing of our own radioactive waste.”

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

sploh se ne strinjam ne strinjam seniti se strinjam niti se ne strinjam strinjam se popolnoma se strinjam trend (strinjam se)trend (popolnoma se strinjam)

Source: ARAO/Ninamedia, 2005.

Q4: “Because we produce radioactive waste in Slovenia, we urgently need an appropriate repository for them.”

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

sploh se ne strinjam ne strinjam seniti se strinjam niti se ne strinjam strinjam se popolnoma se strinjam trend (popolnoma se strinjam)trend (strinjam se)

Source: ARAO/Ninamedia, 2005.

Q5: Who should make the final decision regarding the construction of radioactive waste repository in Slovenia?

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

vlada državni zborstrokovnjaki krajani območja, na katerem bo odlagališčevsi prebivalci Slovenije na referendumu kdo drugekologi ne vem, neodločen, b.o.vsi trend (referendum)trend (strokovnjaki) trend (krajani)trend (vlada) trend (parlament)

Source: ARAO/Ninamedia, 2005.

How to establish and maintain trust?

The components of trust

Expertise(knowledge,

competency etc.)

Caring (empathy,

consistency etc.)

Honesty (openess,

objectivity etc.)

Covello (1992)Kasperson (1991)Peters et al. (1997)Renn and Levine (1991)

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 decision-making 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 decision-makers.

Organizational structure

The coordinating committee

(5 working groups)

The national advisory

board

The secretariat

Sustainable development

Aarhus Convention

Restricted land use

Technical cooperation

Environment

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)