‘An act of betrayal’: Japan to maximise nuclear power 14 years after Fukushima disaster
GuardianFEB 11
Japan Pivots to Nuclear Power in Major Policy Shift
Above: Fuel loaded into the unit 2 reactor at the Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant in Miyagi prefecture on Sept. 9, 2024. Image copyright: Nobuo Serizawa/The Sankei Shimbun/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Nuclear power represents a crucial component for achieving energy security and economic growth while meeting climate goals. The upgraded safety measures and regulatory standards ensure protection against natural disasters, making nuclear power a reliable and necessary energy source for Japan's future. Nuclear power is essential to meeting Japan's future decarbonization and energy goals, though it is still essential that safety plans are put in place.
Narrative B
Operating aging reactors in an earthquake-prone country poses catastrophic risks, and the massive costs of retrofitting old plants could be better invested in renewable energy development. The ongoing Fukushima cleanup demonstrates the long-term consequences of nuclear accidents. The choice to emphasize nuclear power following the catastrophe at Fukushima is extremely upsetting and shows just how risky this decision is.