Major European survey shows public acceptance of nuclear energy is on the increase

FORATOM, the trade association representing the European nuclear industry, has welcomed the results of the Eurobarometer Survey on Nuclear Safety that was published today by the European Commission, which it believes provides further evidence that public opinion in favour of nuclear energy is increasing.

This latest Eurobarometer Survey on Nuclear Safety provides a valuable insight into what European citizens think not only about the safety of nuclear energy, but also about its contribution to security of energy supply and the role it plays in Europe’s energy future. Among the main facts and figures to emerge from the survey are the following:

59% of respondents are confident in nuclear operators’ ability to run nuclear plants safely
68% of respondents think that nuclear energy helps reduce the EU’s dependence upon gas and oil, thereby enhancing security of energy supply
56% want nuclear energy to be maintained or increased (up 8% on the 2007 survey results)

Commenting on the findings of the survey, Santiago San Antonio, Director General of FORATOM, said:
“Experience shows that the more citizens know about nuclear energy, the more they are in favour of it. However, 74% of those surveyed said that they didn’t know enough about it. The industry is committed to participating in the stakeholder dialogue on all aspects relating to nuclear energy in order to bridge this knowledge gap. This includes doing more to inform citizens that solutions for the safe and efficient management of radioactive waste exist and are being put into practice in a number of countries. What is clear from this survey is that public acceptance of nuclear energy is steadily increasing.”

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