The earlier studies show that there is visible suspicion of nuclear waste. Today, one out of three respondents (33%) considers that the disposal of nuclear waste in the bedrock of Finland is safe. There are more who are in doubt, slightly less than half (45%) of the population. Despite the scepticism the figures are more confident than usual – together with the 2003 result the most confident in the whole follow-up period. However, the difference compared to the average level in the past few years is, as a matter of fact, minor [Figure 7.].

The reservations are partly explained by the fact that two-thirds (67%) consider nuclear waste to be a continuous threat to the life of future generations. Even in the light of this meter, concern about waste is slightly lower than its usual level. The trend in the attitudes throughout the study period indicates that the threat experiences are persistent; no great slackening has been seen in attitudes in the 23 study years [Figure 8.].

More than two out of five (42%) now accept the notion that it would be better to keep nuclear waste in its present intermediate storage and wait for new solutions rather than to definitively deposit it in the bedrock. Slightly fewer than one in four (23%) disagree. Even if the support for 'consideration time’ has increased rather than decreased during the past few years, during the previous period it clearly decreased. The overall change in this direction from the beginning of the 1990s (62% supported intermediate storage in 1991) is great. It is true, however, that the interpretation should be made considering the decision made in 1994 to prohibit the exports of nuclear waste, which restricted the potential decisions to a narrower range (no figure).

Attitudes towards nuclear waste are, on average, less negative in the communities where the existing nuclear power plants are located than they are in the rest of Finland. Confidence in safe disposal is significantly more widespread in these communities. The results in the earlier sections of the research series should also be remembered in connection with the examination. They have continuously shown that in principle the residents of both Eurajoki and Loviisa are prepared to accept, i.e. dispose of, nuclear waste in the area of their own municipality. The present study shows that in both municipalities the attitudes towards nuclear waste are mostly the same as a year earlier. Compared with the situation of two to three years back both show growth in reservations rather than confidence (no figure).