The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday, Aug. 25, edition that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday instructed his government to consider developing safer, smaller nuclear reactors. An Associated Press dispatch to The Globe reports that Mr. Kishida made the comment at a "green transformation" conference on bolstering the country's efforts to curb emissions of greenhouse gases. Japan has pledged to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. Anti-nuclear sentiment and safety concerns rose sharply in Japan after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear-plant disaster, but the government has been pushing for a return to nuclear energy amid worries of power shortages after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and a global push to reduce greenhouse gases. Previously the government insisted it was not considering building new plants or replacing aged reactors. Mr. Kishida's comment on Wednesday represents a sharp change from that stand. He said the panel presented proposals for the development and construction of "new innovative reactors designed with new safety mechanisms." He called on the government to expedite its examination of "every possible measure" and reach a decision by the end of the year.