As the global climate catastrophe accelerates, economic theories struggle to offer policies for sustainable development. Japanese Political Economy of the Environment draws on Japan's experiences, struggles, and environmental constraints to illuminate a new economic vision incorporating both state and market institutions.

Tracing Japan's path from industrialization and pollution to environmental policy, this volume emphasizes real-world challenges. Part 1 (Thoughts and Theories) traces the legacy of Japanese pioneers of environmental economics such as Shigeto Tsuru and Hirofumi Uzawa, alongside K. W. Kapp's social costs and ecological Marxism. Part 2 (History and Policies) critically examines Japan's history of energy and environmental policies, the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, and the contemporary 'carbon-captive political-economic structure'. These analyses highlight the decisive importance of governance in overcoming environmental crises.

Exploring Japan's theoretical and empirical insights, this book is a vital resource for scholars, students, and reflective policymakers seeking to understand and ameliorate the environmental crisis and deliver sustainable development.