Addressing climate change

Mizuho is moving ahead with efforts to address climate change by periodically assessing the energy consumption of the entire Group, setting CO₂ emissions reduction targets and devising energy consumption reduction strategies centered on electric power consumption.

CO₂ Emissions Reduction Initiatives

Over 90% of the CO₂ emissions related to Mizuho's business activities arise from electricity consumption.

Mizuho has set a medium- to long- term CO₂ emissions reduction target and is promoting energy conservation measures centered on electric power. 

In April 2022, Mizuho revised the domestic and overseas targets for greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) of its seven group companies and moved up the deadline for achieving carbon neutrality from FY2050 to FY2030.

In the years to come, Mizuho will facilitate energy conservation measures centered on electric power conservation.
 

Target for GHG emissions in and outside Japan (Scope 1 *and 2*)

Target for GHG emissions from seven group companies**:
Carbon neutral by FY2030 (Carbon neutrality to be maintained thereafter)

* Scope 1: Direct CO₂ emissions and energy usage
* Scope 2: Indirect CO₂ emissions and energy usage
** Mizuho Financial Group, Mizuho Bank, Mizuho Trust & Banking, Mizuho Securities, Mizuho Research & Technologies, Asset Management One, and Mizuho Americas.
 

Scope 1 and 2 GHG emission results and targets^**

ESG Data Book (Resources and waste) (PDF/810KB)

 

Strategy for achieving Scope 1 and 2 targets

With the aim of becoming carbon neutral in FY2030, we switched to renewable energy at our contracted properties in FY2023 for our domestic Scope 2 electricity consumption, which accounts for approximately 80% of our GHG emissions, and lowered GHG emissions by about 60% compared to FY2020. In the coming years, we will work to switch to renewable energy at leased properties in Japan, which requires coordination with related parties, as well as continue initiatives to switch company cars from gasoline-powered cars to electric vehicles and reduce GHG emissions at overseas locations.

To address future legally mandated disclosures, we expanded the scope for Scope 1 and 2 measurements from FY2023 from the previous seven Group companies*1 to domestic and overseas consolidated subsidiaries and affiliates, which is the same scope as our consolidated financial reports. In conjunction with this, we expanded third-party assurances, from all Mizuho Bank branches in Japan, the previous scope, to seven Group companies in FY2023 and will expand third-party assurances to the full consolidated Group scope in FY2024.

Progress	Scope1 Examine the electric vehicles adoption policy for domestic BK Adopted electric vehicles for some executive officers’ cars
	Scope2 <Japan> Switch to renewable energy at BK, TB, SC, and RT contracted properties Investigate and negotiate with owners of leased properties toswitch to renewable energy   <Other countries> Switch to renewable energy in some European countries(UK and Germany)
	Measurements and disclosures Measurement scope: From seven Group companies to all consolidated subsidiaries Scope of third-party assurance: From domestic BK to seven Group companies
Policy going forward	Scope1 Switch company cars from gasoline-powered company cars to electric vehicles
	Scope2 Promote switching to renewable energy in Japan and at oversea properties Call for action on the owners of leased properties to switch to renewable energy
	Measurements and disclosures Expand the scope of third-party assurance to consolidated companies and globally

 

Reduce CO₂ emissions by installing and properly utilizing energy-saving equipment

To attain its CO₂ emission volume reduction target, Mizuho will introduce energy–conserving facilities and take thorough measures to appropriately operate and manage those facilities and implement other energy conservation measures while also working to increase its employees' consciousness of environmental issues as a means of promoting CO₂ emission reductions going forward.

In addition, based on the "Mizuho Environmental Standards" instituted with respect to the environmental friendliness of Mizuho Bank branches,  Mizuho Bank has adopted solar cell power generation systems and LED lighting fixtures.

Principal Energy Conservation Measures

Facility–Related Measures	Introduction of such energy–conserving equipment as air conditioning equipment, LED lighting fixtures, and motion–sensor switches Introduction of heat–blocking films on windows and heat–blocking curtains Renovation of equipment to introduce such high–efficiency equipment as inverter–controlled cooling units
Operations–Related Measures	Thorough management of air conditioning temperature settings and reduction of number of air conditioning units used Thinning out of lighting fixtures in hallways and elevator lobbies and improved control of those fixtures Restricting the use of a portion of office automation equipment units Thorough measures to ensure computer monitors are turned off when employees are away from their seats Summer closures of training centers, etc., and thorough management of heating/cooling temperature settings at such facilities Proactive promotion of telephone/online conferencing to reduce the number of business trips (MHBK)
Employee Consciousness–Related Measures	Implement "Cool–Biz" and "Warm–Biz" seasonal apparel promotion programs Promote the "visualization" of energy usage/CO2 emission data for each branch and other facility (MHBK, MHTB, MHRT) Increase employee consciousness of energy conservation/the saving of resources

Promoting the adoption and operation of environment–friendly vehicles

Group companies centered on Mizuho Bank have reevaluated their low–usage–level motor vehicles, completely eliminating the use of marketing–use motorcycles and progressively reducing the number of automobiles while concurrently moving ahead with the introduction of hybrid vehicles and other low–pollution vehicles and shifting to the use of electric bicycles. The amount of NOx generated by motor vehicles operated in the Tokyo Metropolitan region by Mizuho Bank, Mizuho Trust & Banking and Mizuho Securities during fiscal 2023 was 21kg.

Going forward, plans call for moving further ahead with the introduction of electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and other low–pollution vehicles, while also encouraging drivers to reduce engine idling time periods, adopt other "eco–driving" techniques, and implement other measures to further reduce CO₂ emission volume.

Initiatives Taken in Response to National and Local Laws, Ordinances, and Requirements

In Japan, the national government has passed the Act on the Rational Use of Energy (Energy Conservation Law), and local environmental ordinances require that business facilities emitting more than a certain level of greenhouse gases submit and disclose plans for fighting global warming. Mizuho is submitting reports for each of its facilities covered by the ordinances and is striving to reduce energy usage and the volume of CO₂ emissions associated with each facility. Specifically, in line with the requirements of the Energy Conservation Law, Mizuho is working to cut back annual energy consumption per unit by 1% or more on average, and is endeavoring to attain the targets set by local governments.

Tokyo Metropolitan Environmental Security Ordinance

Based on "the Tokyo Cap–and–Trade Program" (for large facilities) and "the Tokyo Carbon Reduction Reporting Program" (for small and medium scale facilities) promoted by The Tokyo Metropolitan Government, relevant Mizuho Group companies have formulated policies for responding to global warming (climate change) and have submitted the reports shown below to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. In addition, facilities subject to "the Tokyo Cap–and–Trade Program" have undergone third–party audits. In addition for properties managed in trust, the Mizuho Group collects information and submits reports to the Tokyo metropolitan government on energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government, "The Tokyo Cap-and-Trade Program"

Required Facilities		Tokyo Carbon Reduction Plan (Japanese Text Only)
MHBK	Administration Center	FY2023 (PDF/497KB)
	Information Center	FY2023 (PDF/333KB)
	Mizuho Marunouchi Tower	FY2023 (PDF/279KB)

 

Tokyo Metropolitan Government, "The Tokyo Carbon Reduction Reporting Program"

Required Entities	Tokyo Carbon Reduction Report (Japanese Text Only)
MHBK	FY2009–
MHTB	FY2009–
MHRT*	FY2009–

^* Mizuho Information & Research Institute and Mizuho Research Institute merged on April 1, 2021.

Mizuho submits reports on its global warming countermeasure to the government of Minato City, Tokyo, in accordance with the ordinance on the promotion of low-carbon buildings for the protection of the living environment for Minato City residents.

City of Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, "The CO₂ Emission Reduction Program"

Based on the "CO₂ Emissions Reduction Program" specified in the "Ordinance to Preserve the Living Environment", business facilities emitting more than a certain level of greenhouse gases are required to submit and disclose plans for preventing global warming.

Mizuho submitted the CO₂ Emissions Reduction Plan and Report on required facilities in the city of Yokohama as follows:

Required Entity	CO2 Emissions Reduction Plan (Japanese Text Only)	CO2 Emissions Reduction Report (Japanese Text Only)
MHBK	FY2022～ 2024(PDF/298KB)	FY2023 (PDF/445KB) FY2022 (PDF/436KB) FY2021 (PDF/496KB) FY2020 (PDF/19,198KB) FY2019 (PDF/18,774KB)