COWAM: Comparison of decision making processes at the local and regional community level in nuclear waste facility siting

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 00.0484

Key words (English)

Radioactive waste; waste management; decision making; trust; social aspects; democracy;
Nuclear Fission; Radioactive Waste; Safety; Social Aspects

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: FIKW-2000-20072

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 5.5.2 Nuclear fission

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Coordinator: Mutadis Consultants SARL, Paris (F)

Abstract (English)

COWAM Concerted Action will establish a common understanding of what is at stake in waste facility sitting decision-making processes at the local and regional community level, taking into account that the sitting of a waste facility implies choices that are not only determined by scientific or technical options but by genuine political considerations of the relevant communities. COWAM will set up and involve a network of some 100 representatives of the various categories of stakeholders concerned with the issue (local & regional communities, public authorities, waste management operators & industry, NGOs, other representatives of the public) in a pluralistic and interdisciplinary comparative assessment of these processes through European case studies of actual experiences. After three years, COWAM will provide concrete findings and recommendations about possible ways to reach decisions through improved decision-making processes.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 00.0484