Whatever the differences measured by polls in different countries (notably in the EU Eurobarometers), there are several data which are commonly observed everywhere: [101]

16.1 Responses to the question ‘What do you expect to be the top three energy sources in 30 years?’ (cf. Eurobarometer on Energy Technologies,

of people for nuclear energy, other people against nuclear energy, and an important proportion that are hesitant or without a clear opinion. This group of ‘undecided’ people is an important target for government information on nuclear energy.

• There are some correlations between socio-demographic characteristics (gender, age, education and economic levels), political opinions and nuclear acceptance. Generally, men are more in favour of nuclear power than women, well-educated people are more in favour of nuclear power than the less well educated, and right-oriented people are more in favour of nuclear power than those who are left-leaning.

• People claim to have more trust in non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and scientists than in political leaders, government and the media to give them information on nuclear power.

• In fact, the public is very much influenced by mass media and by political leaders. There is a vicious circle between the perception by political leaders that nuclear power is not a well-accepted choice by citizens, and that therefore there is some political risk attached to supporting it, and the citizens’ perception that there is some reluctance for political leaders to support nuclear power.

• A guarantee of low energy prices for consumers is, everywhere, the main expectation of a government’s energy policy. Nevertheless, security of supply, protection of the environment and of human health are also important expectations (see Fig. 16.1).

• Last but not least, public opinion on nuclear power can evolve: a major accident like Chernobyl can have a great impact on nuclear acceptance everywhere in the world; indeed, after Chernobyl, some countries decided to phase out their nuclear programmes, sometimes via a referendum (e. g. Italy). Following the Fukushima accident, German Chancellor Angela Merkel decided to shut down the older nuclear plants in Germany. In this regard, safety is a shared responsibility for all nuclear operators and all nuclear countries. The Fukushima accident will have consequences for nuclear development everywhere, and particu­larly in Western countries where the nuclear option is more controver­sial. On the other hand, since the 2000s, there appears to have been more and more acceptance of nuclear power, due to a combination of several factors: progressive awareness of climate change as a major issue, the influence of nuclear development in Asia, signs of a ‘nuclear revival’ in the EU and USA, the instability of oil and gas prices, geopolitical ten­sions between suppliers and consumers, the scarcity of raw materials, etc. Making a nuclear choice could be seen as a factor of stability in this context.