English Abstract

The Issues of Japanfs Energy Policy

Shigeru SUEHIRO
The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan, Inui Bldg., Kachidoki,Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Nippon Gomu Kyokaishi,(2011),84(5),143-147 General Review in Japanese

Energy is indispensable to our daily life. That's why energy policy plays an essential role in our economic and social activity. The issues of energy policy in Japan have been changing according to changes in the economic environment. To supply energy was the top priority just after the War, and it was taken the place of by energy conservation and diversification after the oil crises in 1970s. Economic efficiency in energy market was on top of the agenda in 1980s and the climate change became one of the important issues after 1990s. The present principles in Japan's energy policy are energy security, climate change and market mechanism. The government is going to promote policy to countermeasure climate change such as cap-and-trade, feed-in tariffs and carbon tax. But GHG reduction target (25% reduction against the level of 1990 by 2020) is vague and the vagueness confuses the domestic discussion. It is necessary to make long-term strategies, not short-term visions, to be able to contribute to both the global warming prevention and the sustainable economic growth.

Keywords: Energy Policy, Energy Security, Climate Change, Sustainable Economic Growth