Strategies for addressing the problems in deliberative risk governance with nuclear power

Currently, there are both driving and restraining forces for China's nuclear power development. On the one hand, nuclear power has been regarded as important energy option in the strategic transition to clean energy and carbon reduction on the other hand, the public still has misgivings about nuclear power. The dynamics of public opinion will have an impact on the development or decay of nuclear power in China. In this paper, the author explores into a few critical problems in the public acceptance of nuclear power, including social distrust in the local government and the nuclear industry, lack of effective communication for the uncertainty of nuclear technology, as well as barriers to cultivate public rationality through deliberative governance, etc. Basing on these analysis, the author proposes three politic strategies correspondingly, such as relieving social distrust and building social trust through exploratory public deliberation experiments, reforming the position and organizing process of the communication department with nuclear power corporations, and nurturing the public rationality for technological controversy like nuclear power. (author)