Hundreds of Japanese businesses demonstrate action and policies to protect nature and biodiversity
KEIDANREN (the Japan Business Federation) and KCNC (Keidanren Committee on Nature Conservation) have issued the "Initiative on the Declaration of Biodiversity by Keidanren", a compilation of ambitious policies and specific activities on biodiversity, supported by more than 100 companies, some of which are also Business for Nature Call to Action signatories.
Over the past ten years, Keidanren and the Keidanren Committee on Nature Conservation have made considerable efforts to mainstream biodiversity in the Japanese business community. For example, in 2009, the “Declaration of Biodiversity by Keidanren and Action Policy” was launched prior to the adoption of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. And in response to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement, an update was shared in 2018, inviting businesses to share their actions and activities, which more than 240 member organizations supported.
This most recent initiative was presented by Mr. Nakanishi, Chair of KEIDANREN to the Japanese Minister of the Environment earlier this year, Mr Koizumi.
“It is our strong hope that these initiatives will play an instrumental role in increasing the depth and breadth of actions on biodiversity taken by the business community around the world and contribute to enhancing understanding of the action business can take to conserve nature.”
These collective efforts have helped businesses in Japan make substantial progress on protecting and restoring nature. For example, global food and biotechnology business Ajinomoto has stepped up measures to source sustainable palm oil, and global drink and food company Asahi Group Holdings has committed to their Japanese beer operations becoming water neutral by 2025.
KEIDANREN is an economic organization with 1,444 major company members, covering almost all industrial and financial sectors in Japan. The KCNC is KEIDANREN’s sister organization which specifically focuses on nature conservation and biodiversity, established in 1992.
If you are interested in finding out more, please contact KCNC at kncf@keidanren.or.jp.