What in the Fukushima Should We Do? Analyzing the Costs of the Fukushima Daiichi Disaster and Japan’s Reactions

Authors

• Sara Deal
• Mary Blair Dellinger

Abstract

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, which resulted from the Tōhoku earthquake and subsequent tsunami on 11 March 2011, has caused much debate about the future of the nuclear power industry.  Japan has shut down all of its 54 nuclear reactors and increased power production through fossil fuel plants to make up the difference (Foster 2012).  This paper analyzes Japan’s decision to shut down its nuclear reactors and investigates the environmental, economic, and health costs of this decision. Nuclear power is compared with other forms of power in regards to life cycle cost, land use, CO₂ emissions, and deaths on respective normalized scales.  This paper expands on previous studies by analyzing the effects of using other forms of power to replace nuclear power in Japan.  It is concluded that replacing nuclear power in Japan with any of the other power sources examined will increase cost, land use, CO₂ emissions, and deaths.

Recommended Citation

Deal, Sara and Dellinger, Mary Blair (2012) "What in the Fukushima Should We Do? Analyzing the Costs of the Fukushima Daiichi Disaster and Japan’s Reactions," Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal: Vol. 1, Article 4.
Available at: https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/caravel/vol1/iss1/4