The Legacy Program Operating on the principle of “cooperation, not confrontation,” the Legacy of the Cold War Energy, Society And Security Second Russian National Dialogue On Energy, Society And Security Second Russian National Dialogue On Program (otherwise known as “The Legacy Program”) engages in neutral, third-party facilitation of issues related to arms control and disarmament, demilitarization, technology development Green Cross Russia for safe weapons destruction, nonproliferation, military base cleanup and conversion, and socio- economic development of communities impacted by weapons stockpiles. Green Cross Switzerland More specifically, the Legacy Program works to: Global Green USA • Support the safe and environmentally-sound demilitarization of weapons of mass destruction – nuclear, chemical, and biological – as integral to the implementation of arms control treaties; • Provide access to information for communities near weapons destruction facilities and Second Russian National stockpiles and ensure open channels for dialogue between citizens and authorities; Dialogue On • Promote stakeholder input and involvement in demilitarization-related decision- Dialogue On making processes through citizens’ advisory commissions, public hearings, and national dialogues; • Address the weapons-related health, environment, and welfare concerns of affected Energy, communities by working through schools, hospitals, local government, and the media to promote understanding of weapons destruction processes, encourage emergency preparedness, and support sustainable economies and democratic policies; Society And • Educate legislatures and policy-makers in Russia, Europe, and the U.S. on the importance of international support for demilitarization and organize international gatherings of officials to encourage dialogue, collaboration, and consensus; Security • Collaborate with like-minded groups to advocate for continued funding of demilitarization and nonproliferation efforts, in particular the U.S. Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Program and the G-8 Global Partnership Initiative; and • Mediate and facilitate globally to make progress in arms control, disarmament, and 21-22 April 2008 nonproliferation. Saint Petersburg, Russia Global Green USA Green Cross Switzerland Green Cross Russia The Legacy Program spearheads a range of public outreach and education initiatives. In Russia, Global Green USA Green Cross Switzerland Green Cross Russia for example, the Legacy Program maintains 13 public outreach and information centers to educate and support communities near chemical weapons stockpiles and nuclear submarine dismantlement sites. The centers are an important resource for residents seeking access to specific information and a channel to communicate with authorities. The Legacy Program also organizes forums promoting frank exchange on weapons and security issues. Two of the most important are the “National Dialogues” on Russian chemical weapons destruction, and on nuclear energy, society, and security held annually in Russia. A similar “Legacy Forum” is also held annually in the U.S. on global weapons demilitarization and nonproliferation. The Legacy Program is a international effort of Green Cross International managed primarily by Global Green USA (Washington DC), Green Cross Switzerland (Basel and Zurich), and Green Cross Russia (Moscow). More information is available at www.globalgreen.org, www.greencross.ch, www.green-cross.ru, and www.gci.ch. Global Green USA Green Cross Russia Green Cross Switzerland 1717 Massachusetts Ave, NW 3 Krasina St. Fabrikstrasse 17 Suite 600 Moscow, Russia 123056 8005 Zürich, Switzerland Washington, DC 20036, USA Tel: +7-495-925-6997 Tel: +41-43-499-1313 Tel: +1-202-222-0700 Second Russian National Dialogue on ENERGY, SOCIETY AND SECURITY Green Cross Russia Green Cross Switzerland Global Green USA Second Russian National Dialogue On Energy, Society And Security 21-22 April 2008 Saint Petersburg, Russia 1 Second Russian National Dialogue on ENERGY, SOCIETY AND SECURITY Editorial Team Second Russian National Dialogue on ENERGY, SOCIETY AND SECURITY Editor in Chief: Cristian Ion Editors: Julia Berg, Wided Khadraoui Translators: Megan Lehman, Eugenia Tumanova Photography: I. Petrova Cover Design: L. Surkova Page Layout: GRC Direct, A. Shkrebets Printing: GRC Direct 471 Second Russian National Dialogue on ENERGY, SOCIETY AND SECURITY This collection includes reports and speeches as well as the question-and-answer sessions that took place at the Second Public Dialogue on Nuclear Energy, Society and Security, organized and held on April 21–22, 2008 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The Dialogue participants included Russian federal, regional and local government officials and public organizations, other Russian government agencies, non-governmental and media organizations, as well as representatives from scientific research and design institutes, managers and experts in the country’s fuel and energy sector. International representatives involved experts from governmental and non- governmental organizations in nuclear and alternative energy sources and nuclear nonproliferation, members of the G8 Global Partnership governments. The presentations at this conference provide an assessment of the key risks of civil nuclear facilities and the military facilities that have been phased out (including nuclear submarines) and radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel management. They also address options for resolving today’s key problems in the safe use of nuclear technology, including offering policies with regard to the environmental safety of using nuclear energy, and reaching an agreement with the public on various aspects of nuclear and alternative energy developments. Dialogue Organizers: Green Cross Russia, Green Cross Switzerland and Global Green USA (affiliates of Green Cross International), RosAtom and RosAtom’s Public Council, in partnership with The Stanley Foundation. Dialogue Sponsors: The organizers would like to express their gratitude for financial support to: • AKB Elektronika • Government of Norway • Government of Sweden • Government of Switzerland • International Science and Technology Center • Ploughshares Fund • Rosatom • Rosatom’s Public Council • RosEnergoAtom • SOGAS Insurance Group • TekhSnabEksport • The Stanley Foundation • TVEL • VneshTorgBank Special thanks to the editing and translation team are noted on the last page of the book. The presentation texts and research papers published in this book have been translated and edited into English from original Russian versions, and are the sole opinion of the authors. © Green Cross Russia, 2008 © Green Cross Switzerland, 2008 © Global Green USA, 2008 1 Green Cross Russia, Green Cross Switzerland and Global Green USA are the Russian, Swiss and American 2 affiliates of Green Cross International Second Russian National Dialogue on ENERGY, SOCIETY AND SECURITY Foreword The pace of modern economic development is leading to a rapid increase in energy consumption throughout most of the world. Meanwhile, the limitations of the energy resources used are becoming ever more palpable. Some of the world’s top oil and gas deposits are located in politically unstable regions. The increased use of oil and gas also runs counter to the Kyoto Protocol. The unresolved problem of nuclear waste has made it difficult for nuclear energy to garner broad public acceptance, and there is a need to create a new type of fuel cycle. There are many proposals for alternative energy resources, but none of them can generate energy on the massive scale required, at the moment. The end of the Cold War put an end to the fifty-year arms race and stamped out the threat of a massive nuclear conflict. The ghost of thousands of nuclear warheads crushing out civilization has been supplanted by the belief that a new era of a multipolar world is upon us. The end of the Cold War global conflict has truly reduced the risk of an all-out nuclear war, but, since then, other risks have emerged. Today, Russia must answer a number of nuclear questions of both domestic and international significance. How should nuclear arms systems and their delivery vehicles be dismantled? Where should we put nuclear waste and how should it be transported? What should we do with fissile material and how should it be treated? How can we effectively protect nuclear materials while adhering to the principles of nonproliferation? What role will the atom play in the future of energy? And, probably the primary question: how safe is all of this? After the Kyshtym and Chernobyl catastrophes, the public realized that the right to nuclear and radiation safety is one of man’s main rights. The provision of safety for both the environment and the public is currently the priority when destroying nuclear weapons and their delivery systems, as well as in the widespread proliferation of nuclear energy. None of these problems can be resolved without the understanding and support of the Russian society, or without the approval and recognition of a national strategy. The objective of this Second National Dialogue on Energy, Society and Security is to establish agreement and mutual understanding in our society with regard to nuclear and radiation safety in the Russian Federation in relation to overcoming the legacy of the Cold War and defining potential opportunities for paving the way to the safe development of alternative energy futures. Green Cross Russia Press Service 3 Second Russian National Dialogue on ENERGY, SOCIETY AND SECURITY