Abstract

This research examines nuclear energy sustainability in the Arctic through next-generation nuclear technologies, particularly small modular reactors (SMRs), designed for remote, o?-grid areas and extreme conditions, including waste management. The study assesses how these technologies can address extreme environmental and logistical challenges, while being perceived as high-risk for human health, the environment, and Arctic ecosystems.

Adopting a socio-political and environmental perspective, the research integrates insights from science and technology studies, with a focus on nuclear energy as a form of technical hubris, and on studies of risk, disaster, and decision-making. It explores collective expectations toward innovation, societal narratives around nuclear energy, and the legacy of past programs, highlighting how scientific and social practices shape each other.

The analysis emphasizes the role of nuclear energy in Arctic energy transitions, energy security, and energy justice, in a context where climate change amplifies risks and a?ects legitimacy. Through a comparative study of the Russian Arctic, Alaska, and Finland, including fieldwork in remote villages, the study integrates and values traditional knowledge, highlighting its moral significance for sustainable management, while considering nuclear energy alongside renewable solutions. This approach moves beyond purely quantitative risk assessments, showing how dialogues among diverse knowledge systems contribute to integrated, multi-level governance in the Arctic.

Keywords: nuclear sustainability, energy and cultural transition, next-generation nuclear technologies, Indigenous knowledge, STS imaginaries, multi-level risk and governance.