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.
Author(s): Thomas Flüeler
Series: Springer Textbooks in Earth Sciences, Geography and Environment
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 161
City: Cham
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
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Problems
Systems
From Inter- to Transdisciplinarity
Nuclear Waste
Conventional Toxic/Hazardous Waste
Carbon Capture (‘Utilisation’) and Storage, CC(U)S
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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
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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
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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
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Key References
Robustness, Production of Knowledge
Consensus, Conflicts, Participation, Etc.
Mental Models, Paradigms
Sustainable Development
Nuclear Waste
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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
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Key References
Approach
Radioactive Waste and Conventional Toxic Waste
Carbon Capture and Storage, CCS
Further Reading: Radioactive Waste
Conventional Toxic Waste
CCS
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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
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Key References
Perspectives
Governance
Institutions, Learning
Closure
Process, Time
Resilience, Adaptiveness/Adaptability
Nuclear Waste, Long-term Stewardship
Nuclear Waste
Country Profiles
Hazardous Waste
CCS
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Appendix_1
Appendix_2
