3 WHY JAPAN IS NO-LONGER A FRONT-RUNNER: DOMESTIC POLITICS …
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international negotiations for the mitigation of climate change. Japan’s
energy policy has been heavily biased in favor of nuclear energy while
turning a cold shoulder toward renewable energy sources. Japan has maintained a strong commitment to the development of nuclear power as
the national energy strategy for reducing its dependence on imported
oil. This policy has been funded exceptionally well through a complicated system of government subsidies based on the three laws for nuclear
power development: namely, the Electric Power Development Taxation
Law, the Special Budget Law for the Development of Electric Power,
and the Law for the Adjustment for Areas Adjacent to Power Generating
Facilities (Oshima 2010; Yoshioka 2011). This so-called Dengen samp¯ o
(the three laws for power development) was introduced in June 1974
by Tanaka Kakuei, one of the most dynamic postwar prime ministers.
Since Tanaka’s initiative, Japan has completed 54 nuclear reactors with an
installed capacity of about 45 GW, which was the third largest in the world
after the United States and France. According to a study (Oshima 2010,
pp. 30–50), since the 1970s, 70% of the account for the smooth siting of
power plants, whose source of revenue had been the electric power development tax, and 97% of the energy expenditure in the national general
account budget have been spent for the development of nuclear power.
In conjunction with both energy and climate change policy, in 2006,
METI’s New National Energy Strategy set ambitious targets (METI
2006). Regarding energy conservation, it set a target of 30% improvement in energy efficiency by 2030. Japan’s oil dependence as the primary
energy sources should be reduced to lower than 40% from 52% (Toichi
2002, p. 1) by 2030. The transportation sector had to reduce oil dependency by 80%, while Japanese developers should develop 40% of total
oil import by 2030. Nuclear power generation should increase by 30 to
40% or more by around 2030 (METI 2006, p. 14). Despite the future
expansion of new energy technology under this New National Energy
Strategy, the role assigned for renewable energy sources was very limited
as the report failed to mention them as one of the primary sources in the
Japanese energy strategy. Several years later, in June 2010, the cabinet
meeting adopted the Basic Energy Plan. Accordingly, 70% of electricity
generation would stem from non-fossil fuels or “zero emissions” energy
sources by 2030, of which the share of renewable energy and nuclear
energy would be 20% and 50%, respectively. Toward this end, Japan had
to build five additional nuclear power plants by 2020 and another nine
by 2030 (METI 2010).
55
international negotiations for the mitigation of climate change. Japan’s
energy policy has been heavily biased in favor of nuclear energy while
turning a cold shoulder toward renewable energy sources. Japan has maintained a strong commitment to the development of nuclear power as
the national energy strategy for reducing its dependence on imported
oil. This policy has been funded exceptionally well through a complicated system of government subsidies based on the three laws for nuclear
power development: namely, the Electric Power Development Taxation
Law, the Special Budget Law for the Development of Electric Power,
and the Law for the Adjustment for Areas Adjacent to Power Generating
Facilities (Oshima 2010; Yoshioka 2011). This so-called Dengen samp¯ o
(the three laws for power development) was introduced in June 1974
by Tanaka Kakuei, one of the most dynamic postwar prime ministers.
Since Tanaka’s initiative, Japan has completed 54 nuclear reactors with an
installed capacity of about 45 GW, which was the third largest in the world
after the United States and France. According to a study (Oshima 2010,
pp. 30–50), since the 1970s, 70% of the account for the smooth siting of
power plants, whose source of revenue had been the electric power development tax, and 97% of the energy expenditure in the national general
account budget have been spent for the development of nuclear power.
In conjunction with both energy and climate change policy, in 2006,
METI’s New National Energy Strategy set ambitious targets (METI
2006). Regarding energy conservation, it set a target of 30% improvement in energy efficiency by 2030. Japan’s oil dependence as the primary
energy sources should be reduced to lower than 40% from 52% (Toichi
2002, p. 1) by 2030. The transportation sector had to reduce oil dependency by 80%, while Japanese developers should develop 40% of total
oil import by 2030. Nuclear power generation should increase by 30 to
40% or more by around 2030 (METI 2006, p. 14). Despite the future
expansion of new energy technology under this New National Energy
Strategy, the role assigned for renewable energy sources was very limited
as the report failed to mention them as one of the primary sources in the
Japanese energy strategy. Several years later, in June 2010, the cabinet
meeting adopted the Basic Energy Plan. Accordingly, 70% of electricity
generation would stem from non-fossil fuels or “zero emissions” energy
sources by 2030, of which the share of renewable energy and nuclear
energy would be 20% and 50%, respectively. Toward this end, Japan had
to build five additional nuclear power plants by 2020 and another nine
by 2030 (METI 2010).