Human Rights Concerns on Fukushima Radioactive Wastewater Dumping Plan in Kishida Era

Abstract

Purpose: The Kishida administration’s proposed Fukushima radioactive wastewater dumping plan is very controversial both domestically and internationally. This paper examines the risks and consequences of the plan with a special focus on human rights concerns. It argues that, as the Kishida administration commences the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, it should only consider approaches that are consistent with a human-centric policy that is supportive of human rights.
 Method: This paper employs politics of responsibility theory to examine the Kishida administration’s proposed Fukushima radioactive wastewater dumping plan. In light of the current body of research on the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station by international scholars, scientists, and experts, it argues that the Kishida administration’s implementation of the proposed radioactive wastewater dumping plan represents a failure to govern with an eye to the politics of responsibility.
 Results: This paper finds that application of the Fukushima radioactive wastewater dumping plan under the Kishida administration will induce immense political, economic, social, and environmental consequences for Japanese citizens as well as citizens in neighboring countries and beyond. The Kishida administration is presently failing to pursue policies that reinforce a human-centric policy that would be more supportive of human rights.
 Conclusion: The Kishida administration must suspend the current plan to dump Fukushima’s radioactive wastewater into the Pacific Ocean and consider alternative methods that will not result in the radioactive pollution of the ocean. As it proceeds with the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, it should focus on principles of governance emphasizing the politics of responsibility and take steps to abide by relevant international legal standards and human rights norms.