Assessments

Reactor buildings and water storage tanks are seen at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Okuma, Japan, on March 5, 2022 -- nearly 11 years after a massive earthquake triggered a devastating meltdown.

Nuclear power could quickly boost generation capacity and lower emissions. Restarting the country's reactors, however, won't be easy.

Rising Support for Nuclear Power Will Help, but Won’t Ensure, Japan Hits Its Climate Goals

Rising Support for Nuclear Power Will Help, but Won’t Ensure, Japan Hits Its Climate Goals | RANE

Highlights

Japan

Energy

Politics

Environment, Science & Technology

A Japanese Awakening

Rising popular support for nuclear energy will make it politically easier for Japan to restart some of its reactors, but Tokyo will nonetheless struggle to hit its nuclear power-related goals in its climate and energy strategies. A poll released in March by the Japanese outlet Nikkei found that 53% of respondents supported restarting nuclear power plants, compared with 44% in a similar poll released in September. Nikkei has carried out the poll semiannually since 2011 and the March 2022 poll was the first to find a majority supporting restarting nuclear reactors. 

ASSESSMENTS

Rising Support for Nuclear Power Will Help, but Won’t Ensure, Japan Hits Its Climate Goals

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