Hurdles mar Japan’s renewable energy equation

Newspaper link

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/07/22/business/hurdles-mar-japans-renewable-energy-equation/#.V7qToph97b0

Summary

The article highlights the obstacles that Japan faces in green energy production (and its eventual substitution of fossil fuels). It starts with a promising “attention-grabbing” project in Chiba Prefecture before turning the article around and focusing on the government’s approval of coal mines.

The article proceeds to show the structural inadequacies, public and private resistance, and biasness within Japan’s energy sector. The article attributes the lack of renewable energy focus due to the reduction in nuclear energy and the urgent need for coal/fossil fuel to fill in the gap.

 

Representation of Japan and the Environment

Japan was constantly represented as pushing for eco-friendly energy sources despite the obstacles faced. The “hurdles” mentioned represents both natural and man-made issues. These includes barriers to the grid, public perception of nuclear power and laziness towards renewables paints Japan as having to content with short-term coal measures given various limitations placed. Notably, the paper anchors Japan’s focus on the environment in relation to the fallout and reactionary measures from the 3/11 Fukushima fiasco.

The environment that is referred to in the paper is the “Human” environment and not the “Natural” one. This is discerned from government’s lack of attention and effort in meeting quotas set during climate change agreements. Instead, focusing on the well-being of society, ensuring that nature is able to serve the energy needs of the masses.

 

What makes Japan Green?

Despite the article being fixated on coal and forcing renewables to take a back seat, there are green elements that reinforce Japanese love for “green” and “nature”. First, the floating solar farm – slated to be one of the world’s largest – underpins the eco-friendly goals of Japan. This is described by Kirby as “eco symbols… [giving] a veneer of apparent ecological sensitivity” (2016: 69).

Although the solar industry is failing due to high barriers to the Grid, the initial boom captures their green intent. Additionally, the reliance on geothermal heat instead of electricity for onsen – even in present time – points to their green behaviour.

The government’s reduction of nuclear power plants also depicts a somewhat green approach aimed at preventing another 3/11 environmental problem – recognizing their weakness of being in an active tectonic region.

 

Ideas for Discussion

The article, analysed through political ecology frameworks, reveals the political and economic motivations of different players – government, public and private corporations – and how the environment is on the receiving end of the resultant degradation (Stott and Sullivan, 2000). The uneven power relations between renewable energy producers and fossil fuel corporations with regard to access of the Grid is a key element in the continued degradation of Japan’s environment –  through physical destruction from coal mines and carbon emissions.

Uneven power relations are also seen when the government produces knowledge in favour of their actions by giving flawed reasoning regarding baseload generators. Also, economic motivations and profits are placed over environmental concerns – seen via local resistance to geothermal energy. While it is indeed sustainable, the innkeepers’ refusal to cede their “access and control over resources” portrays the “complex relations” (2000: 257) of society and nature as described by Watts.

[500 words]

 

Bibliography

Kirby, P.W., 2016. Troubled natures: waste, environment, Japan. University of Hawai’i Press.

Stott, P.A. and Sullivan, S., 2000. Political ecology: science, myth and power.

Watts, M., 2000. Political ecology. A companion to economic geography257, p.274.