Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government aims to adopt Japan’s next long-term energy strategy by the time a key United Nations climate change conference opens in Glasgow, Scotland, on Oct. 31.
But while Japan is committed to carbon neutrality by midcentury and making specific cuts to its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, the main argument has now shifted to what measures are needed to achieve the latter goal under a national energy mix plan for 2030.
With a new Cabinet that includes outspoken pro-nuclear LDP party leaders and figures in key positions, the coming weeks are likely to see an intense debate within the Kishida administration over the future balance between renewable energy and nuclear power. But while ramping up renewables brings concerns over the reliability of energy supplies, increasing the role of nuclear presents a mountain of political, financial and logistical challenges that would have to be overcome at a time when other sources, including renewable energy, are more readily available.