There is a recognition internationally that inclusive stakeholder engagement, transparency, and trust are fundamental to the decision-making process that leads to stable, secure and sustainable energy supply.
Due to the diversity of stakeholder groups, perspectives, and expectations, it is necessary to build dialogue and consensus by identifying common goals that allow a strategic leveraging of efforts. By grounding such endeavours in policy, strategy and recommendations, it then becomes possible to establish frameworks that support fit-for-purpose decisions that meet societal needs.
To address such challenges, the NEA High-level Group on Stakeholder Engagement, Trust, Transparency and Social Sciences (HLG-SET) met on 12-13 September 2024 in Paris to discuss concrete plans on how it can engage at the senior policy-level to cultivate a deeper understanding of the relations between the nuclear sector and society. A key focus in doing so is to develop appropriate mechanisms to foster communication, public engagement and trust building between the public and the nuclear sector, in co-ordination with existing NEA bodies and the wider international community.
In collaboration with expert groups and committees undertaking complementary initiatives in areas of common interest, the HLG-SET will deliver outcomes around three main topics covering:
- Data collection and analysis: To provide high-level guidance and oversight in developing approaches and tools to systematically collect, analyse and monitor data on stakeholder perceptions, knowledge, attitudes, expectations and trust relating to nuclear energy.
- Compilation of best practices and lessons learned: To develop a set of recommendations applying the social sciences to foster stakeholder engagement and trust through a flexible, adaptable, inclusive and transparent framework that may be applied across diverse cultures, contexts, regions, technologies, and challenges within the energy sector.
- Assisting the NEA with strategic planning: To provide advice to the NEA to ensure its Strategic Plan is well integrated, with optimal leveraging of relevant work being undertaken across the NEA and beyond.
Through such efforts, the HLG-SET will support and advance the efforts of NEA member countries to improve the understanding and development of effective policy-level initiatives aimed at advancing the relationship between the nuclear sector (including industry, policymakers, regulators, technical institutes and other relevant stakeholders) and civil society.
If you are aware of initiatives on stakeholder engagement, transparency and trust that may be of interest to the HLG-SET, please get in touch (tamara.yankovich@oecd-nea.org).
