Japan

Environmental resources and challenges of Japan

Nuclear power supplied about 30% of Japan's electricity before the Fukushima Daiichi accident in March 2011; almost all reactors were then shut down, bringing nuclear's share to zero by 2012, before a slow recovery as some reactors restarted under stricter safety standards — about 8.2% in 2024, with a government target of 20 to 22% by 2030. Located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Japan also remains one of the countries most exposed to natural hazards — earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and typhoons — which explains earthquake-resistant building standards and warning systems among the most advanced in the world.