The 31st JAIF annual conference

Moving to the main theme of the conference this year is Nuclear Energy: New Challenges. But, the issue of global warming is one that everyone involved in energy must grapple with. While some people point out that there is no firm scientific evidence for global warming, it is definitely a crisis looming before all of humanity. A serious view of the crisis leads to the obvious conclusion that nuclear power generation can play a big role in preventing global warming, given its lack of greenhouse gas emissions during the power generating stage. JAIF will strive even harder in the future to inform the public broadly about knowledge and information related to the development of nuclear energy, as well as ensure that their ideas are reflected in that process. Four session theme in this conference were: Global warming and energy solution; Japan's social transformation and its impacts on nuclear energy development; Nuclear fuel cycle/Review in the long-term; and Advanced technology and nuclear energy/Progress and prospect. (G.K.)