Current Trends in Eco-Friendly Reconstruction after the Great East Japan Earthquake

On March 11, 2011, the East coast of Japan was hit by one of the strongest earthquakes in history, followed by a devastating tsunami. Although most lifelines, infrastructure, and public facilities have been restored gradually, recovery efforts in terms of disposal of disaster waste and revival of primary industry are lagging. This study presents a summary of the damage inflicted by the earthquake and the current status of reconstruction in the disaster area. Moreover, we discuss the current trends and future perspectives on recently implemented eco-friendly reconstruction projects and focus on the pro-environmental behavior of disaster victims which is emerging as a result of the energy shortage after the earthquake. Finally, we offer ideas for initiatives for the next stage of the reconstruction policies.

Authors:

• Ayaka Kamiyama
• Akihiro Iijima

Keywords:

• Agriculture
• Disaster wastes
• Pro-environmental behavior
• Reconstruction policies.

References:

[1] National Police Agency of Japan, Countermeasures for the Great East
Japan Earthquake, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo: National Police Agency of Japan,
vol. 281, pp. 14-16, 2012.
[2] Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters Government of Japan,
Report of the Japanese Government to the IAEA Ministerial Conference
on Nuclear Safety -The Accident at TEPCO-s Fukushima Nuclear Power
Stations-, International Atomic Energy Agency, 2011.
[3] K. Wada, Fukushima-no Shinro, Toho Area Research Institute, vol. 5, pp.
16-23, 2012.
[4] H. Iwaki, Y. Korekawa, N. Gonda, M. Masuda, K. Ito, Economic and
Fiscal Analysis Discussion Paper, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo: Cabinet Office,
Government of Japan, vol. DP/11-01, 2011.
[5] Reconstruction Agency of Japan, Current Situation and Approach of
Reconstruction, Minato-ku, Tokyo: Reconstruction Agency of Japan,
May, 2012.
[6] Y. Nakano, Association for Nature Restoration and Conservation, Japan,
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, private communication, 2012.
[7] S. Iwabuchi, NPO Tambo, Osaki, Miyagi, private communication, 2012.