The Ministry of the Environment (MOE) will launch a project to “visualize” greenhouse gas emissions throughout the supply chain of domestic companies. MOE will support small and mid-sized companies, who have been slow to respond to this issue, in releasing emissions information. This will make it easier for large companies to calculate emissions for each of their products and services. By taking the initiative in this area, MOE aims to enhance the international competitiveness of Japanese companies.
MOE is working to incorporate the project in the “clean energy strategy” being formulated under Prime Minister Kishida Fumio for inclusion in the ministry’s budget request for FY2023.
MOE will collaborate with chambers of commerce and financial institutions in each region to create a framework to demonstrate to small and mid-sized companies how to calculate, reduce, and disclose information on greenhouse gas emissions. MOE will also create a dedicated internet site where companies that wish to promote their decarbonization efforts can release their emissions figures.
Japan’s Global Warming Countermeasures Promotion Law requires companies that emit more than 3,000 tons of greenhouse gases annually to report their emissions, which are then disclosed. There are 800 Japanese companies and organizations that support the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), an international framework on the disclosure of corporate decarbonization information. This number is the highest in the world.
Disclosure is not mandatory for small and mid-sized companies. Few such companies disclose information for lack of human resources and knowledge. Many small and mid-sized companies are responsible for the procurement, transportation, and disposal of raw materials. It is necessary to know the emission figures for the entire supply network including those of small and mid-sized companies in order for large companies to release information on the amount of emissions and the reduction of emissions in their products and services,.
