Environmental Problems in Japan As an industrialized nation Japan must cope with tough environmental problems.

Japan is the worlds leading importer of exhaustible power resources and also the worlds fifth largest emitter of greenhouse gases. Its a signatory with the Kyoto Protocol and also the country which hosted the conference in 1997. Below the Kyoto Protocol treaty Japan is obligated to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions to a level 6% lower than its 1990 levels. In addition, Japan must take other actions to curb global climate alter. Nuclear power offers about 35% of Japans electricity. You will find presently 63 nuclear energy plants operating in Japan making it the second largest user of nuclear energy within the world. All of these energy plants produce waste which much be dealt with. Especially harmful is HLW, or high-level radioactive waste. To address this problem the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant was built in Ibaraki, Japan. There are many opponents towards the opening with the plant, such as Greenpeace, which feel the plant poses danger to surrounding residents. The opponents also feel Japan should be investing money in cleaner and safer renewable energy sources. Japan is one of the worlds largest customers of fish. Nevertheless, because of depleting ocean stocks the annual catch has been quickly decreasing. Japan is the worlds third largest consumer of fish, following China and Peru. Numbers with the prized bluefin tuna, referred to as the diamond with the sea in Japan, are dwindling causing fishing quotas to be reduced. Japan has been facing international pressure from environmentalists to curb its consumption of bluefin tuna. Japans whaling for research purposes has also attracted a great deal of negative international attention. The whale meat harvested from the research campaigns is sold in supermarkets and restaurants in Japan. Many people really feel the Japanese JARPA analysis program is just an obvious cover for commercial whaling. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, lead by Captain Paul Watson, utilizes controversial tactics to stop Japanese whaling vessels in the Antarctic. Two common methods used by Sea Shepherd are throwing rotten butter and potent stink bombs at the Japanese whaling vessels. Renewable power accounts for only 1.3% of Japans total energy production. Despite being technologically advanced and heavily dependent on oil imports, the country has set an unambitious goal of 1.6% by 2014. Currently Japan ranks 14th in the globe for wind-power installations. Having a lack of government policies to promote the use of renewable energies it is unlikely Japan will turn out to be a global leader in this area as numerous as soon as believed. By on learn one piece