NIMBY Syndrome in Polish Nuclear Energy

One of the most important investments in almost every European country today is the construction of a nuclear power plant. In times of energy crisis related to global warming or the crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, such investments are crucial in ensuring the continued functioning of the state without the need to seek support from another country. However, such an expensive and burdensome investment will be associated with social unrest, particularly in the context of the livelihoods of communities in the immediate vicinity. With this in mind, the literature still lacks significant evidence regarding social unrest related to the construction of a nuclear power plant. This topic is not widely discussed, hence a certain gap in research could be observed, partly due to the topic’s inconvenient nature. With this in mind, this study attempts to present the NIMBY syndrome in the area of nuclear energy in Poland, focusing on the sentiment of the local community surrounding the investment in question.

The main aim of this article is to illustrate the NIMBY syndrome in the area of nuclear energy, using the example of the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Poland in Choczewo. The research problem in the article is formulated as the following question: Given the current state of the Polish energy sector, could the construction of a nuclear power plant influence positive attitudes among people living in its immediate vicinity? The study utilized secondary analysis of literature and legislative data in Poland and the European Union, as well as a case study approach, which allowed for the analysis of the social attitudes of people living in the area of the nuclear power plant construction.