Intensified global warming is propelling a seismic shift in global energy use. The destructive effects of fossil fuels have prompted governments to accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources and those that cause less damage to the environment: Prime among them is natural gas. This has profound implications for Japan, not only in its energy policy but in its foreign policies as well.
Japan's energy policy has been driven by two imperatives: reducing vulnerability arising from reliance on foreign suppliers and promoting environmentally-friendly sources. Both objectives were met by a resort to nuclear power, a decision that has been subject to increasing scrutiny since the Fukushima nuclear disaster on March 11, 2011. That disaster spurred Japanese companies, consumers and the government to turn to alternative sources of energy and one of the most important options has been liquefied natural gas (LNG).
A surge in demand for LNG in the aftermath of that crisis turned Japan into the world's largest importer of the fuel, importing about 83.5 million tons annually. Future projections are uncertain, however. Initial forecasts anticipated decreases as nuclear power plants come back online, Japan reduces reliance on fossil fuels (while cleaner than others, natural gas is a fossil fuel) and the use of renewable energy sources such as solar power increases. The nuclear plans are increasingly subject to question, and concern about volatile energy prices is prompting Japanese utilities to lock in longer-term contracts that could sustain demand. Now, gentle growth is forecast for the next five years or so.