Japan´s energy future: Between a return to nuclear energy and a turn to renewables

After the triple disaster of 11 March 2011, Japan is at an energy crossroad. In the short and medium run it depends on fossil fuel imports to ensure its energy security, but the long term will be determined by the decisions taken at present. For Japan energy security is a national security challenge, as stated in its National Security Strategy. The article reviews the Japanese nuclear path, studies the factors shaping the Japanese electricity market and analyzes the current energy situation. Moreover, it also assesses the principles that have marked Japan’s energy policy and the two last Strategic Energy Plans -one prior to Fukushima and the other after it- before tackling the debate on the optimal future energy mix that Japan should adopt to meet its energy security trilemma, marked by its environmental commitment.

La Seguridad Energética y la Estrategia Global de Seguridad de la Unión Europea

El presente artículo plantea una definición ampliada del concepto de seguridad energética, yendo más allá del concepto clásico establecido por la Agencia Internacional de la Energía, incorporando cuestiones relativas a la eficiencia energética, la aceptabilidad del modelo energético y los retos que impone el cambio climático, pero sin perder de perspectiva las exigencias y las dinámicas competitivas económicas globales. Sobre la base de este concepto ampliado, se examina la evolución de la seguridad energética en el marco de la Unión Europea, con una atención particular a cómo se concibe la seguridad energética en la Estrategia Global de Seguridad de 2016.

Mobilizing capacity of environmental information: the importance of quality journalism to achieve proenvironmental attitudes

Citizens say they are very concerned about the environment, and they know the role they play in their deterioration; but there is a gap between this proclaimed interest and the mobilization against environmental problems. Several news published between 2010 and 2011 about the Spanish energy policy and Doñana have economic and social aspects, that sometimes are confused with environmental aspects. It is worthy of study, therefore, to analyze how the press reflects that citizen interest; and how a critical issue as the quality of the information can influence the attitude of citizens in issues related to the environment. If the journalistic practice does not meet quality its function, it will condition the social participation.