TOKYO — A Cabinet panel on Friday called for Japan to phase out nuclear power over the next three decades in what would be a major shift of national energy policy prompted by the Fukushima meltdowns.
Reversing Japan's decades-long advocacy of nuclear power is popular with the public, though it faces opposition from powerful business interests. The new policy calls for greater reliance on renewable energy, more conservation and sustainable use of fossil fuels and would see Japan joining Germany in turning its back on nuclear energy.
The proposal requires endorsement by the entire Cabinet, which Japanese news reports say has already agreed to the changes.
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said the new policy was just the beginning of a long and difficult process.
"We are only at the starting line," Noda said. "Now we are going to begin an extremely difficult challenge. No matter how difficult it is, we can no longer put it off."
The phase-out of nuclear power by the 2030s is to be achieved mainly by retiring aging reactors and not replacing them.
Reversing Japan's decades-long advocacy of nuclear power is popular with the public, though it faces opposition from powerful business interests. The new policy calls for greater reliance on renewable energy, more conservation and sustainable use of fossil fuels and would see Japan joining Germany in turning its back on nuclear energy.
The proposal requires endorsement by the entire Cabinet, which Japanese news reports say has already agreed to the changes.
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said the new policy was just the beginning of a long and difficult process.
"We are only at the starting line," Noda said. "Now we are going to begin an extremely difficult challenge. No matter how difficult it is, we can no longer put it off."
The phase-out of nuclear power by the 2030s is to be achieved mainly by retiring aging reactors and not replacing them.
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