Fukushima global communication programme final report

The report summarises the Fukushima Global Communication Programme's research in three key areas that are crucial for understanding and addressing the impacts of the 2011 disasters: (i) disaster risk reduction and lessons from and for international policy, (ii) displacement and livelihoods, and (iii) risk communication and nuclear accidents. The report highlights the complexity of the diverse and deep-rooted socio-economic challenges that emerged following the disasters.

Lessons learned presented in this report are the following (p. 33-34):

• Along with maximising nuclear safety, radiation risk communication must be carried out continuously, with the engagement of citizens through open discussions regarding risks related to the nuclear industry.
• Emergency communication mechanisms should be established and utilised to ensure timely provision of situation-specific risk information.
• Given the remaining uncertainties in the estimations of actual exposure to radiation and health effects, risks need to be defined in cooperation with citizens, taking into account their concerns and socio-cultural factors that affect their acceptance or tolerance of each specific risk.
• If a nuclear accident occurs despite all possible precautions, radiation risk communication should be an integral part of the disaster management dialogue, and a central element of the processes of policy development and implementation.