COMMUNITY ACCEPTANCE OF NUCLEAR POWER GENERATION IN JAPAN AND RELEVANT INFLUENCING FACTORS

The Japanese government has recently set an ambitious target to reduce its CO2 emissions by expanding renewables and nuclear power plants (NPPs). Perception about nuclear power, however, has always been an issue in Japan. This research reports the results of a survey regarding public acceptance of NPPs in three community groups and associations with some of its influencing factors. The samples are taken from one site near a plant under construction (Kaminoseki), another near a plant in operation (Hamaoka) and one without plants nearby (Kyoto). Among the findings, the preference to expand nuclear power was 28 percent, while that to decrease it was 11 percent. In addition, the community acceptance may shift from 28 to 65 percent in a special case of constrained acceptance. People living near the planning and the consumption sites had the highest acceptance rates and the least polarised view towards NPPs expansion. Among the analysed factors of influence, “Inclusion in the decision process” had significant correlation with both cases of acceptance (Tau b=0.22). Some measures to improve community acceptance before plans for NPPs expansion are included as recommendations.