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The Political Economy of Renewable Energy and Energy Security pp 67–96Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

The Impact of 3–11 on Japanese Public Opinion and Policy Toward Energy Security

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Part of the book series: Energy, Climate and the Environment ((ECE))

Abstract

Ever since Japan began industrializing in the late 19th century the country has lacked sufficient energy resources to meet its needs, a situation that continues to this day. Starting in the 1960s, and especially since the oil crises of the 1970s, Tokyo has promoted nuclear power as the primary means for enhancing Japan’s energy security, along with efforts to increase energy efficiency. It is widely recognized that the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, which triggered a massive tsunami and a major nuclear accident, undermined this strategy. This in turn provoked a national debate over Japan’s energy policy, especially the role of nuclear power versus renewable energy in supplying electricity.

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Authors
  1. Paul Midford
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

    Espen Moe (Associate Professor) & Paul Midford (Professor) (Associate Professor) &  (Professor)

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© 2014 Paul Midford

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Midford, P. (2014). The Impact of 3–11 on Japanese Public Opinion and Policy Toward Energy Security. In: Moe, E., Midford, P. (eds) The Political Economy of Renewable Energy and Energy Security. Energy, Climate and the Environment. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137338877_4

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