[10 Years Since the Great East Japan Earthquake] "Nuclear Power Essential for Climate Change Response... Utilizing Future Energy Resources"

Advanced countries reduce nuclear power while China and Russia increase... Leadership may be lost to China
Transparent policies require maintaining oversight systems in democratic countries

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] As the 10th anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident approaches on the 11th, experts from around the world are pouring out suggestions regarding the future direction of the nuclear industry.

Their general analysis is that nuclear power is the most powerful weapon against climate change and an indispensable future energy resource that must never be abandoned. The lesson left to us by the Fukushima incident is interpreted as a reemphasis on the need to safely utilize nuclear power rather than to phase it out.

"Lessons from the Fukushima Incident"

On the 6th (local time), The Economist published an article titled "Lessons from the Fukushima Incident," analyzing that "nuclear power is an essential weapon to combat climate change and should not be discarded but properly utilized." It stated that nuclear power is essential to realize a 'carbon-neutral society by 2050.' The economic media outlet Barron's also emphasized, "The Fukushima incident rather reinforced the importance of using clean energy," adding, "Intermittent renewable energies such as wind and marine power can never replace nuclear power, which provides affordable electricity 365 days a year."

This argument is based on the recognition that the cause of the Fukushima incident was not the nuclear technology itself but human error in the supervisory management system. Yoichi Funabashi, author of 'The Truth of the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster,' said at a meeting with the Brookings Institution in the U.S. on the 5th, "The biggest problem with the Fukushima incident was the Japanese government's overconfidence in their nuclear management system, leading to complacency about safety," and "The meltdown at Fukushima nuclear power plant meant a meltdown of the government’s supervisory system."

Panoramic view of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Experts emphasize that major advanced countries should not stick to nuclear phase-out policies but focus on efforts to dispel negative perceptions about nuclear power. The scientific media Nature stated, "It is important to ensure transparency by involving various stakeholders, including civil society, in the construction and operation of nuclear power plants," proposing so-called 'democratization of technology' as a solution.

Until now, governments have overlooked the public's negative perception of the nuclear industry, which has caused a vicious cycle of distrust. Therefore, it means that the public should directly participate in decision-making regarding nuclear power operation to alleviate antagonism.

China May Take the Lead in Nuclear Power

The 4th plenary session of the 13th National People's Congress is underway at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China. [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Warnings have also been raised that China may encroach on the nuclear power industry’s market share as countries including South Korea, Germany, and Taiwan push aggressive nuclear phase-out drives. The Economist warned, "With China announcing plans to operate nuclear power plants at least until the 22nd century, pushing forward with nuclear phase-out risks ceding industrial leadership to China." Bloomberg also predicted, "China is expected to surpass the U.S. to become the world's largest nuclear power country by nuclear power generation before 2030."

Foreign media express concern that if an authoritarian country like China monopolizes the nuclear power industry, regulatory oversight of nuclear power may become lax. In other words, it is analyzed that it is necessary for democratic countries in the Western world, where transparent policy enforcement is possible, to take the lead in developing nuclear power and establishing regulatory systems for supervision.

"2030 Nuclear Cliff"... Japan Also Voices Calls to Reconsider Nuclear Policy

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga
Photo by EPA Yonhap News

Japan, which experienced the Fukushima incident, is also cautiously raising voices to reconsider its nuclear policy. Last year, when Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga took office, he announced a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050 and stated that the share of nuclear power in total electricity generation in Japan would be raised to 20-22% by 2030 to achieve this.

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun pointed out on the 7th that "Japan has lost the opportunity to pass on nuclear technology and skills over the past decade, and by 2030, most skilled personnel will have left the field," warning of a '2030 nuclear cliff' situation.

However, public opinion overwhelmingly supports nuclear phase-out. According to a Kyodo News survey on the 7th, 76% of all respondents supported the nuclear phase-out policy.

Meanwhile, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), since the Fukushima incident, out of a total of 57 reactors in Japan, 24 have been permanently shut down, and only 33 remain operable. Among these 33 reactors, 16 are currently undergoing review for restart. Additionally, of the 154,000 people evacuated after the Fukushima incident, at least 36,000 residents have still not returned.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.