The inaugural Nuclear Stakeholder Engagement School is underway in Trieste this week as part of IAEA efforts to strengthen stakeholder engagement skills across its member countries.
The school, jointly organized with the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), aims to foster understanding on this multifaceted topic which is crucial for nuclear power programme success.
It will provide an overview of theory and practice in this field and is aimed at those who are involved with their organization’s stakeholder engagement programmes. The programme of the school, developed as a coordinated effort involving the Department of Nuclear Energy, the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security, the Department of Safeguards and the Office of Public Information and Communication, is available here.
As the impacts of climate change become increasingly visible, nuclear power is now broadly recognized as necessary to meet clean energy transition targets. Whether a country is looking to introduce nuclear power to its energy mix or expand an existing programme, practices such as promoting transparent dialogue with stakeholder groups and involving them in the decision making process are key for initial programme acceptance and long-term sustainability.
“A challenge we face is what some might call the ‘nuclear paradox’. On one hand, nuclear energy is one of the best tools we have to combat climate change. It’s reliable, it’s scalable, it’s low carbon. But on the other hand, there are concerns about potential negative impacts on the environment,” said Mikhail Chudakov, Deputy Director General and Head of the IAEA Department of Nuclear Energy. “People worry about waste, safety, proliferation—and the long-term impact on their communities and ecosystems. We have to face those concerns head-on and ensure that all stakeholders also understand the benefits so that they can make informed decisions.”
“Informing and transparency are essential but not enough. This week we are going back to the pillars of communication and how the coaching skills of attentive listening and being non-judgmental create a safe environment for an open and honest dialogue,” said Sophie Boutaud de la Combe, Director of the IAEA’s Office of Public Information and Communication. “During hands-on exercises, the participants have experienced their benefits to build authentic partnerships with stakeholders, anchored in shared values.”
This first edition of the school has brought nearly three dozen participants from 25 countries to ICTP headquarters for a five-day course. The diverse group is learning about a wide range of topics, from how to develop a stakeholder engagement framework to the psychology of decision making to the roles and responsibilities of key organizations. The school’s opening day concluded with a panel discussion, which was open to the public, on opportunities and challenges in expanding the use of nuclear power worldwide, with a focus on social license.
Panellists included Charles Oppenheimer, (Founder & Co-Executive Director of the Oppenheimer Project), Aleshia Duncan (Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Cooperation in the US Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy), Stefano Monti, (President of the Italian Nuclear Association and the European Nuclear Society) and Meritxell Martell (Executive Director of the Group of European Municipalities with Nuclear Facilities). Jeff Donovan, Communication, Outreach and Stakeholder Involvement Officer in the IAEA Department of Nuclear Energy, moderated the discussion.
Oppenheimer also gave a keynote speech at the school at the ICTP campus where his grandfather J. Robert Oppenheimer served as Chair of the ICTP’s first Scientific Council, in 1964. “The IAEA and ICTP are dedicated to the mission of fostering cooperation to reap the benefits of nuclear energy, and I have gained a new appreciation for both organizations this week,” he said. “Having invested stakeholders is the most important part of getting a nuclear power project started. The diversity of the students is crucial for helping achieve the goal of a world with more clean energy and fewer nuclear weapons.”
Martell added that the expectation of local communities is to participate in nuclear projects as essential partners, beyond being considered as stakeholders. "Governments and the nuclear industry should recognize that partnering with communities not only builds confidence in projects but also brings the added value of local knowledge."
“My key message to the participants was ‘you can’t underestimate the power of the relationship. You have to show up and be consistent,’” said Duncan. The school organization is supported with funding from the US Department of Energy through the IAEA Peaceful Uses Initiative.
Monti highlighted some insights: “The rising interest in nuclear stems from the growing realization that solving the energy trilemma requires a technology-neutral approach. Renewables and nuclear must work hand in hand,” he said. “To make this a reality, open communication and proactive engagement with the public and stakeholders are essential.”
The curriculum includes a number of hands-on exercises as well as group projects, designed to apply their newly acquired knowledge in a creative way. Each group has been assigned a scenario, such as a country moving forward with the construction of their first nuclear power plant or a country looking to site an underground laboratory to determine its suitability for hosting a deep geological repository.
“This is a unique opportunity to engage directly with experts and other colleagues working in the field of nuclear energy,” said Klaudia Lencsesova, a Communication Specialist at the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic. “The hands-on workshops, interactive practical exercises and discussions provide a deeper understanding of the complex phenomena and invaluable insights into the importance of stakeholder engagement during all stages of the nuclear power plant life cycle.”
“One of the most valuable takeaways for me from the training is that stakeholder engagement is not a one-time event, but rather a continuous process,” said Gabriel Odhyambo a Communication Officer at Kenya’s Nuclear Power and Energy Agency. “It extends beyond just securing initial support for a nuclear power programme to building a sustainable, collaborative relationship where all parties are actively involved.”
“As a public relations specialist, this school will help me deliver high quality nuclear communications to inform the public about nuclear technology and obtain their trust to realize net zero emissions by 2050,” said Kristanty Permata Vidiarsi, a Public Relations Officer at the National Research and Innovation Agency in Indonesia.
The IAEA supports its member countries in enhancing stakeholder engagement by providing guidance, resources, and capacity building initiatives to promote transparency, inclusivity, and public trust. To advance these efforts, the IAEA will host the first International Conference on Stakeholder Engagement for Nuclear Power Programmes from 26 to 30 May 2025 at its headquarters in Vienna, Austria. Authors are invited to submit their synopses by 2 December 2024.
The conference will provide a global platform to exchange good practices, experiences, challenges and lessons learned related to stakeholder engagement for nuclear power programmes, bringing together policymakers, regulators, communication experts, technical support organizations, waste management organizations, community representatives, industry leaders, academic researchers, NGOs and international organizations.
