In a very first for Japan given that the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe in 2011, public assistance for a nuclear reboot is now at more than 60%, stated a previous executive director of the International Energy Agency, mentioning a possible energy scarcity and a “very cold winter” as factors.
“Japanese public support’s more than 60%, and it was the first time ever that support of nuclear power is starting to come over 50% after (the) Fukushima accident,” stated Nobuo Tanaka, now the chair of the Innovation for Cool EarthForum He was speaking at the 2022 Global Supertrends Conference.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida revealed in May that the nation will take firm actions to reboot idled nuclear reactor to support energy supply and costs.
In 2011, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor was struck by a huge earthquake and tsunami, which eliminated almost 16,000 individuals and triggered the world’s worst nuclear catastrophe given that Chernobyl in 1986.
Though there have actually been appointments amongst the Japanese public over making use of atomic energy, especially when it pertains to the concern of security, Tanaka stated the future of nuclear power is now much safer, and worried the significance of reducing danger and keeping “peaceful use.”
Energy crisis
Tanaka associated the boost in public assistance to the possibility of “serious problems by the end of this year” if Japan does not have nuclear power.
Tanaka stated that Japan wishes to protect energy products however likewise pursue reaching carbon neutrality by 2050, and striking that balance might show progressively difficult.
Nuclear power has actually been promoted as a crucial choice for decarbonization.
“Japan is trying to secure the supply of energy, especially electricity, while trying to maintain the targets of carbon neutral by 2050 intact. So this is really (a) challenge for Japan to do many things,” he stated.
