From recovery to resilience: designing a sustainable future for Fukushima

Ten years ago, a devastating earthquake, tsunamis and nuclear accident in Japan took thousands of lives and affected millions of people. This unprecedented disaster generated numerous lessons for policymakers in Japan and around the world on how to prepare, respond to and recover from shocks, and build resilient communities, regions and societies. The 30 to 40 years process of decommissioning Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station offers the impetus and a rare window of opportunities to cultivate long-term, sustainable growth and resilience in the region and beyond. This policy brief discusses the opportunities and challenges related to the decommissioning, and the policy options for sustainable development in the region. It also presents experiences and lessons relevant to Fukushima from other OECD regions and cities.