Japan's sunk costs

摘要

That Japan can keep the lights on without its nuclear reactors is remarkable in itself and somewhat puts the lie to the argument that nuclear power is in some way 'essential'. However, emissions have to be taken into account and Japan's consumption of LNG and crude oil has risen since the March 2011 Fukushima accident, even if coal use has remained broadly flat. The lights may be on, but the atmospheric soup is thickening as a result.