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ICRP or experts, but they ultimately aligned with those objectives. That said, these actions have been implemented in the form of what may be called a co-expertise process, as recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection( ICRP) in its recent Publication 146( ICRP, 2020). Developed on the basis of the experience gained in the areas affected in Belarus by the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident, the co-expertise process essentially aims to restore the decision-making capacities of the affected people, which were largely amputated following the accident. The Fukushima Dialogues initiated in 2011 by the ICRP and continued by the NPO Fukushima Dialogue have clearly highlighted that the empowerment of local citizens in managing the consequences of the Fukushima accident is essential to address the human and social dimensions of the accident( Ando et al., 2023; ICRP, 2016; Lochard et al., 2019).
Currently, more than a decade after the accident, the main challenges in the areas affected by the Fukushima accident remain to rebuild family and community life and to ensure public health as well as economic and social sustainability( Ando et al., 2023).
Based on these considerations, a series of discussions between SSH scientists and Japanese experts took place at the ICRP 2023 Symposium held in Tokyo from November 7 to 9, 2023, and at the 36th Annual Meeting of the Society for Risk Analysis Japan held in Sapporo from November 11 to 12, 2023. They highlighted the significance of sharing ongoing reflections on the key role of considering societal issues in the recovery process after the Fukushima accident. To further investigate these topics, an online meeting was organized by CEPN and Nagasaki University on May 25, 2024( Schneider and Lochard, 2024) during which it was decided to continue the discussions in the form of a workshop. The later was organized in a hybrid format on October 26 – 27, 2024 by Osaka University( currently, the University of Osaka) under the title " SHS in the Management of the Recovery Process after the Fukushima Accident," in cooperation of Nagasaki University, the Nuclear Protection Evaluation Centre( CEPN), the NPO Fukushima Dialogue, the French Institute of Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety( IRSN), and the ICRP.
This article reports on the presentations and discussions that took place during the online meeting and the subsequent workshop. The first part provides a brief summary of the key ideas discussed during the online preparatory meeting in May 2024 and the second part provides an overview of the presentations made during the October workshop as well as its main conclusions and possible future developments.
2 Summary of the online meeting on SSH in the management of the recovery process
This online meeting was attended by 15 experts( 10 from Japan and 5 from France). The meeting was divided into three sessions as follows( Schneider and Lochard, 2024): – Self-introductions by participants and four presentations to understand the role of SSH in the recovery process after the Fukushima accident. – General discussion. – Discussion on preparations for the workshop in October
2024.
The four presentations introduced the role and contribution of SSH after a large-scale nuclear accident based on ICRP Publication 146( ICRP, 2020), the social issues and academic perspectives after the Fukushima accident, the design of a dialogue process for the final disposal of removed soil generated by decontamination, and the issues that IRSN is addressing in the field of SSH in the recovery process from nuclear accidents.
2.1 Overall discussion at the meeting
The overall discussion focused on identifying current issues in the recovery process following the Fukushima accident and the role of SSH. Specifically, the following seven points were discussed:“ complexity and human dimensions,”“ empowerment, co-expertise, and dialogue,”“ contextualization, testimony, and historical perspective,”“ power balance and justice,”“ compromise versus consensus,”“ holistic approach and sustainable development,” and“ policy of science.”
2.1.1 Complexity and human dimensions
Managing the impacts of the accident involves not only technical issues, but also a wide range of economic, social, health and environmental issues. To address the complexity of the situation, it is necessary to understand these human dimensions( largely relying on SSH research and contribution) and to implement appropriate governance and response measures addressing these dimensions.
2.1.2 Empowerment, co-expertise, and dialogue
The empowerment of stakeholders including citizens in the assessment of the situation and in the decision-process is essential for successful post-accident recovery. The stakeholder involvement has positive impact on the decisionmaking processes in terms of transparency, fairness, and reflection of diverse social values and contributes to reestablishing the autonomy of affected people. In this context, promoting co-expertise and ensuring spaces for dialogue play a major role in the progress of recovery.
2.1.3 Contextualization, testimony, and historical perspective
In recovery from the accident, it is important to consider the history and socio-economic background of each community. This leads to the identification of management options that are appropriate not only to the radiation issues but also to the specific customs and living conditions of communities. Emphasis should be placed on the testimony of local residents and the characteristics of the area, and the recovery process should be carried out through cooperation between experts and local residents.
2.1.4 Power balance and justice
The process of recovery from the accident requires careful consideration on the power balance. In particular, consideration must be given to gender balance and the involvement of