Okiluoto in Finland has been chosen for the construction of the world’s first high-level radioactive waste depository, and construction is currently underway with the plant expected to go into operation in 2020. Japan, however, has yet to make a firm decision on a depository for the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel. Whether you’re in favor of nuclear power or not, the disposal of radioactive waste and the decommissioning of reactors are issues that cannot be ignored. These issues need to be addressed positively, with consideration given to the safe management of nuclear power and energy.

Human economic and social activity is contingent on environmental stability. If humans are to live on the earth, the following basic principles must be adhered to: (1) Isolate human beings from nature (protect the natural environment), i.e. maximize the volume of nature and minimize contact with it be human beings, the cause of pollution, and (2) reuse items contaminated by human beings (recycling-based society), i.e. if humans, the source of contamination, cause contamination for unavoidable reasons, minimize the destruction of the natural world through reuse and recycling.

As temperatures rise, extremely high temperatures and very heavy rainfall are becoming more frequent occurrences in various parts of the world. Unless measures to curb global warming are implemented, during the next 100 years the average temperature is expected to increase by 2.6-4.8 degrees Celsius and the average sea level is expected to rise by 45-82 cm. Doing nothing is simply not an option. As an environmentally advanced nation, Japan needs to demonstrate leadership in preventing global warming.