Why Greenpeace Criticizes Japan: Whaling, Overfishing, Nuclear, Climate

Greenpeace's campaigns against Japanese policies focus on four major environmental flashpoints.

1. Commercial Whaling

• Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving IWC
• Quotas for minke, Bryde's, sei whales in EEZ
• Greenpeace: Unnecessary, cruel, undermines global moratorium; monitors fleet via ship/air

2. Overfishing & Distant-Water Fleets

• Japan = #1 or #2 global seafood importer
• Distant-water fleet operates globally; IUU (illegal) fishing allegations
• Bluefin tuna, saury, eel stocks depleted
• Greenpeace demands: Science-based quotas, transparency, fleet reduction

3. Nuclear Power Post-Fukushima

• 2011 disaster: meltdowns, radiation release, 160,000 displaced
• Government restarting reactors; plans for new builds
• Greenpeace: Inherent risk, waste unsolved, renewables cheaper/faster; advocates phase-out

4. Climate Ambition

• Japan = 5th largest CO2 emitter
• 2030 target: 46% reduction (2013 base) — rated "Insufficient" by CAT
• Coal dependency (~30% power); slow renewables deployment
• Greenpeace: Phase out coal by 2030, 100% renewable by 2050

Japanese Government Response

Cites energy security, economic cost, scientific whaling tradition, and "pragmatic" climate path. Greenpeace Japan operates domestically with local staff and campaigns.