Nuclear energy presents one of most serious challenges for our human civilization. During the last five decades nuclear power technologies have evolved from the experimental scientific facilities into a powerful industry sector, providing the world with about seventy percent of its total generated electricity supply.
It is now evident that the use of nuclear energy can facilitate the path of humankind to a sustainable future. But at the same time we already have had the opportunity to witness how destructive nuclear energy can be, if used in an improper manner. At present the search for alternatives to nuclear energy is in progress. But now the world can no longer refuse to use nuclear power. Therefore, the global community must do everything possible to ensure the nuclear energy is handled safely enough to not endanger the existence of the civilization on the Globe, but to make this civilization more powerful and self-sustainable. Along with the development of the nuclear science and technologies, the gradual evolution of the national and international legal regulations of nuclear energy use is essential in this respect.
This evolution is a very difficult, laborious, and time consuming. The international legal order for nuclear energy is characterized by a mix of legally binding rules and agreements and advisory standards and regulations. This mix is constantly changing. Very important steps forward have already been made. The positive development of this system now has become a regular continuous process. Recent non-binding advisory standards are gradually becoming binding commitments. Many countries are accepting, step by step, recommendatory international regulations as a basis for their national legislations. Now, in order to facilitate and support this process, it is very important the concerned international bodies, governments and public are actively involved in the progressive development of the national and international nuclear law.