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Tarnished: accidents at the mihama power station and elsewhere have dented nuclear's image. Credit: greenpeace/higuchi

Japan's latest plan to tackle global warming has been strongly criticized by environmentalists for its strong dependence on the use of nuclear energy to reduce the nation's emissions of greenhouse gases.

The basic plan on global warming, released last week by the Central Environmental Council of the Environment Agency, details measures for achieving the 6 per cent reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2008-12 that was agreed by Japan at the Kyoto climate conference in 1997.

The plan, now under consideration in parliament, calls for the promotion of nuclear energy to help reduce the emission of such gases. It proposes that 20 nuclear reactors should be built by 2010 to increase the electricity generated by nuclear power by 50 per cent over its 1997 level.

The plan also includes the development of alternative energy resources such as solar energy. But its main emphasis is on nuclear energy, although it says this should depend on there being adequate safety measures and proper management of radioactive waste.

The plan is based partly on a bill drawn up last year by the agency, which requires both central and prefectural governments to make plans to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. But it derives mainly from the government's general policy outlines on global warming, also released last year, which indicated that Japan's use of nuclear energy would need to be substantially increased to achieve the planned reduction (see Nature 393, 199; & 394, 3 1998

The first draft of the environment agency's plan focused on alternative energy resources and measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in industry, but did not mention nuclear energy. But this was changed after resistance from industrial lobbyists and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).

Environmental groups have criticized the plan as unrealistic, given the anti-nuclear mood in Japan following a series of accidents and cover-ups at nuclear facilities.

The electricity industry itself does not seem to want more nuclear reactors. Most electricity companies have frozen plans to build new reactors after strong opposition from local residents. Many are planning to increase the operation time of existing reactors and say that regular safety checks and repairs could double the lifespan of such reactors, normally 30 years.

Although central government cannot build nuclear reactors without the approval of prefectural governments, MITI says it will look again at the problem of radioactive disposal and renew its efforts to increase public support for more nuclear facilities.

But according to Kiko Forum, a federation of more than 100 environmental groups, Japan cannot meet its target for reducing emissions under the current plan without building 20 new reactors.

Mie Asaoka, director-general of Kiko Forum, says: “The problem lies in the fact that [the government] has been over-dependent on nuclear energy, and has failed to revise its long-term energy policy.”

Asaoka adds that Japan's gross domestic product is declining, with little prospect for immediate recovery. “Perhaps we will not need all the energy the government claims we will,” she says.