CONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE: PUBLIC OPINION ON THE ROLE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY IN EUROPE’S ENERGY TRANSITION

Abstract

This thesis examines how historical memory and environmental science literacy shape European public opinion on nuclear energy and its role in the energy transition. While nuclear power is often assessed in terms of cost, emissions, and technical feasibility, public attitudes (shaped by accidents such as Chernobyl and Fukushima and by levels of environmental literacy) play a decisive role in determining policy legitimacy. Using a qualitative mixed-methods approach, combining surveys (n=168), expert interviews, and Eurobarometer data, the study finds that historical accidents continue to foster risk perceptions, whereas higher scientific literacy encourages more nuanced, evidence-based views. Media and political discourse act as mediating factors, amplifying or reframing these influences. The findings suggest that nuclear acceptance in the EU depends less on technical viability than on trust, transparency, and communication. Effective policy requires framing nuclear as a complementary technology, investing in public literacy, and fostering inclusive dialogue to strengthen institutional trust.