Kushiro wetlands megasolar issue

Kushiro wetlands megasolar issue
Kushiro wetlands megasolar issue
Part of the aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, solar power and environmental issues in Japan
	"No more mega solar" declaration by Kushiro City
Date	2012 – present; Main surge: March 20, 2025 – present (11 months and 23 days)
Location	Kushiro wetlands, Hokkaido, Japan Kushiro City (mainly); Kushiro town; Shibecha; Tsurui; ;
Caused by	Ecological concerns about the solar panels in the Kushiro wetlands; Japan Ecology attempts to construct a new megasolar plant in Kushiro City;
Goals	Blocking Japan Ecology on the construction of a new megasolar plant; Stricter regulations and policies on megasolar plants;
Methods	Petitions
Status	Ongoing Japan Ecology construction resumes; Several projects suspended; Stricter regulations regarding the installation of solar plants; New operators will be excluded from subsidy programs after 2027;
Parties
Residents of Kushiro City Environmental groups: Kushiro Wetland Nature Regeneration Council; Nature Conservation Society of Kushiro; Kushiro City Government: Hidenori Tsuruma; City council of Kushiro; ; Supported by: ; Prefectural Goverment of Hokkaido Naomichi Suzuki; ; Japanese Goverment Sanae Takaichi Keiichiro Asao; Ishihara Hirotaka; ; ;	Japan Ecology Masanori Matsui; ;

Since 2012, several solar facilities have been constructed in the area around Kushiro-shitsugen National Park in Japan, which the locals call a "sea of megasolar farms" (メガソーラーの海, Megasōrā no Umi). Several environmental groups and residents have expressed concern about the facilities' environmental impact on local wildlife.

Following the construction of mega solar farms by Japan Ecology, an Osaka-based enegy company, in Kushiro City in summer of 2025, the Kushiro wetlands megasolar issue (釧路湿原メガソーラー問題, Kushiro Shitugen megasōrā mondai) gained national attention and is widely reported in Japanese media which leads to the "No More Megasolar" declaration in Kushiro City and national policy change regarding the contruction of Megasolar plants in Japan.