UN Approves Japan's Plan to Release Fukushima Water into the Sea
The United Nations has approved Japan's plan to gradually release treated, radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean. The UN atomic energy agency states that the initiative meets international standards and will have minimal impact on the environment and human health. The water, which has been collected, treated, and stored in tanks at the plant since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, will be discharged 1,000 yards offshore via an undersea tunnel. The decision has faced criticism from fisheries in Japan and neighboring countries, leading to increased demand for seafood in the region. The Japanese government argues that the water must be removed to prevent new leaks and prepare for the plant's decommissioning.