Appeal for investment by visualization of the efforts against climate changes – Summarize the specific guidelines by the end of the year –
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced on July 23 that it will set up an expert opinion meeting to encourage the companies to disseminate the information on climate change. METI will establish a mechanism for raising funds by visualizing the efforts of Japanese companies with superior low-carbon technologies, products and services, and will appeal to the investors. The management of the companies will be the members and will hold the first meeting on August 8. Working group of worker level (WG) is also provided, and will develop guidance before the end of the year.
The name of the study meeting is “Study Group on Green Finance and Corporate Information Disclosure”. The committee consists of managements of companies and investors, and as an observer, the Ministry of the Environment, the Financial Services Agency, Nippon Keidanren and others are invited for participation.
Under the framework of the Paris Agreement, especially in the finance industry, there is an increasing movement to make the criteria to evaluate the efforts for climate change when investment and loan decisions are made including for ESG (environmental, social, corporate governance) investment. In addition, the Taskforce for Climate Change Financial Information Disclosure (TCFD), which the International Financial Stability Board (FSB) established, is proceeding to develop the international rules on information disclosure.
This study meeting, METI will set up, aims to provide the investors with the information of the strengths of Japanese companies having low-carbon technologies and environmentally-friendly products and services, and to attract the related investment. Based on the results of TCFD review and also referring to overseas advanced cases, TCFD will formulate guidelines that can be used to judge investment risks and benefits and
The study group planned to be held about 3 times including the first meeting on the 8th of September. the WG under this WG will prepare the concrete guidelines. It plans to conclude the discussion before the end of the year.
Source: Monthly Magazine “Energy Conservation”