The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident has had an impact on the development of nuclear power around the world. While the accident was followed by thorough technical assessments of the safety of all operating nuclear power plants, and a general increase in safety requirements has been observed worldwide, national policy responses have been more varied. These responses have ranged from countries phasing out or accelerating decisions to phase out nuclear energy to countries reducing their reliance on nuclear power or on the contrary continuing to pursue or expand their nuclear power programmes.

This  study  examines  changes  to  policies,  and    plans  and  attempts  to  distinguish  the  impact  of  the Fukushima  Daiichi  accident  from  other  factors  that  have  affected  policymaking  in  relation  to  nuclear energy,  in  particular  electricity  market  economics, financing  challenges  and  competition  from  other sources (gas, coal and renewables). It also examines changes over time to long-term, quantitative country projections, which reveal interesting trends on the possible role of nuclear energy in future energy systems.