Challenges in Green Innovation Policy after the Fukushima Nuclear Accident

This paper examines Japan's Science and Technology (S&T) Basic Plans in accordance with its S&T Basic Law. The Basic Plans promote two major innovation (Green Innovation and Life Innovation) towards the creation of new markets and jobs, specifically under the Fourth S&T Basic Plan enacted on August 2011. Successful smart community demonstration projects at four urban localities were launched under plans to promote Green Innovation research and development of renewable energy technologies. However, the expectation that renewable energy such as solar or wind power can replace nuclear power is not backed by sufficient evidence. Furthermore, the electricity produced by these sources is expensive and unstable owing to its reliance on weather conditions. The Fukushima nuclear power plant accident on March 2011 has also seriously affected Japan's future energy plans. According to a government estimate, electricity charges would double if nuclear power generation were abandoned, imposing a heavy burden on the Japanese economy. Japan is in need of energy policies designed on the basis of more far-sighted initiatives.