Why is Japan turning back on climate change at the 11th hour?

This fall, world leaders will gather in Paris at the 21st United Nations Climate Change Conference. Climate experts see this as a critical meeting that could make or break our chance at fighting climate change. As it stands, 34 nations have submitted their INDCs (Intended Nationally Determined Contribution). Japan, a top emitter of greenhouse gas emissions and the 3rd largest economy in the world, home of the Kyoto Protocol, has ignored the end-of-March deadline. So what’s the hold up?
Following the Kyoto Protocol, Japan was well on its way to living up to its promises of slashing climate change. With little domestic natural resources, Japan relied heavily on nuclear power to supports its economy and cut emissions. Then Fukushima happened - the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl and Japan changed irrevocably. To avoid blackouts, the nation took action. National energy-saving campaigns were launched. Escalators and hand dryers went out of operation, lights dimmed and people sweated it out as they relied less on air conditioning. The summer post-Fukushima didn’t see a single blackout and Japan closed its nuclear power plants one by one.