ABSTRACT
Chapter 1 introduces the topic of radioactive waste management (RWM). It offers a brief historical overview on the major developments of nuclear energy and touches upon the concerns that this form of energy has raised over time. The chapter discusses, then, the role of nuclear energy in a low-carbon economy and society, and its current challenges in terms of safety and, more extensively, RWM. The chapter also explains the distinction between low-, intermediate- and high-level radioactive waste, and touches upon deep geological disposal as the ultimate solution for high-level waste. Finally, the chapter presents Directive 2011/70/Euratom and its call for transparency in RWM in the EU.
