NEWS & EVENTS

On May 1, 2020, the Edwin O. Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies hosted a virtual presentation by Visiting Scholar Satoshi Nakano entitled “Reducing CO2 Without Economic Depression.”

An engineer for Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Incorporated with extensive experience in long-term power system planning, Mr. Nakano emphasized the urgent need for Japan’s government to take steps to combat climate change while limiting damage to the country’s economic growth. To achieve this challenging objective, he argued, it is essential for the country to employ a range of methods of power generation, including the construction of new nuclear power plants. Mr. Nakano asserted that these nuclear plants must be constructed with small modular reactors (SMRs), which are cheaper, safer, and more efficient than larger reactors.

In addition to building SMRs to help meet its own energy needs, he added, Japan should construct these reactors in countries around the world that struggle to produce their own nuclear power. Finally, Japan should take part in multilateral efforts to manage spent nuclear fuel, while also helping to establish an international regulatory framework for nuclear safety. Following his presentation, Nr. Nakano answered questions from a number of audience members, including Reischauer Center Director Kent Calder and Senior Advisor William Brooks.