Waiting for waste: Nuclear imagination and the politics of distant futures in Finland

摘要: Abstract Nuclear energy production leaves behind waste that endangers human health for over 100,000 years. Governments and nuclear power producers around the world are scrambling to safely sustainably dispose of these byproducts. To manage waste, Finland began constructing Onkalo spent fuel repository, which is first structure in engineered last one hundred millennia. The purpose this article examine competing imaginaries deep-time policymaking process. This paper analyzes history repository decision-making process authorizing its creation, arguing deep time policy decisions mediated by expected technological progress future generations. I present two different imaginaries: progressive precautionary. imaginary believes technology generations will outpace natural challenges, so contemporary decisionmakers should prioritize flexibility. In contrast, precautionary skeptical consistently advance favors immediate action mitigate long-term risks. suggest Onkalo’s development adoption rested upon a prevailing imagination, explained part Finnish society’s general deference established expertise. argue progressive-precautionary framework can help explain both cross-national variations single case studies decisions. conclude considering generalizability my analysis areas research.