Risk assessment in the Federal Republic of Germany

Abstract

One of the central issues in the controversial debate on energy systems is the evaluation of risks associated with different options for energy supply and demand. Models of risks evaluation help to promote a rational discussion about the criteria for judging the acceptability of energy options. These normative criteria should meet the test of intersubjective validity, i.e. they should be, at least in principle, agrreeable or acceptable to all affected parties. Any decision on acceptability is also a decision about the allocation of risks, because it determines the relationship between the costs for suffering the potential consequences of the remaining risks and the costs for risk reduction.