The Role of International Environmental Laws and Regulations in Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy

Abstract

Presence of environmental concerns, insufficient confidence regarding fossil fuels and the need for variety of resources are among important issues, which make consideration of modern technology such as nuclear energy inevitable. The overall aim of this study is to examine the peaceful use of nuclear energy based on international environmental law. Considering the ever-growing capabilities of nuclear energy, and legal and environmental problems in developing this technology, the need for this study seems obvious. This research is an applied, descriptive study based on questionnaire survey. The statistical population of the current study is authoritative researchers and students in the field of environmental and nuclear law in the doctorate level. Twenty-nine individuals were selected and studied by means of random sampling. The dependent variable of the study was peaceful use of nuclear energy. Findings showed that the current situation of international laws and regulations in peaceful usage of nuclear energy is unsuitable, therefore preventive, deterrent, and controlling laws and regulations must be considered. Factor Analysis showed that safety, responsibility, waste, environment, and cooperation among the most important considered points in international environmental laws and regulations in peaceful use of nuclear energy, in total were able to explain 79.14 % of the variance. In fact, creating obligatory legal procedures, and supporting a system of international cooperation regarding execution and planning, and accurate supervision on functions related to environmental and nuclear energy laws with sufficient supportive facilities seem essential.