Efforts Related to the Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development were adopted at the UN Summit held in September 2015, and are composed of 17 goals and 169 targets that the world should aim to address by 2030. Corporations are also expected to implement more significant initiatives and make contributions toward the achievement of the SDGs.

Our Approach to the Sustainable Development Goals

At Mizuho, we take an integrated view on sustainability and business strategy. We have designated materiality areas based on the expectations of society (the expectations stakeholders have about Mizuho’s impact on society) and their importance for Mizuho (medium- to long-term impact on our corporate value and compatibility with Mizuho’s strategies and business areas), and are proactively implementing initiatives that contribute to the SDGs.

Materiality		Main Initiatives
Declining birthrate and aging population, plus good health and lengthening lifespans	In an age of longer lifespans, provide safe, stable, and convenient services tailored to each individual’s needs	Asset formation support initiatives Expand services that respond to a society with a declining birthrate and aging population Digital transformation
Industry development & innovation	Support industry and business development, and create new value on a global basis	Support for business succession Digital transformation Creating resilient social infrastructure Support measures responding to changes in industry structure
Sound economic growth	Contribute to economic development by utilizing financial infrastructure functions to respond to changes in the Japanese and global business environment	Responsible financing and investment Digital transformation
Environment & society	Cooperate with customers to realize sustainable social development, including environmental conservation	Addressing Climate Change (Initiatives based on TCFD Recommendations) Environmental business initiatives Responsible financing and investment Human Rights Financial and Economic Education Social Contributions
Personnel	Based on a corporate culture where employees can act independently, develop a diverse workforce that grows together with customers and society	Employees
Governance	Implement strong corporate governance and stable operational management to benefit customers and society	Corporate Governance System Risk Management Structure Digital transformation Compliance Crime prevention Mizuho's Stakeholders

 

Initiatives for the Sustainable Development Goals

As part of our efforts to achieve the SDGs, we are strengthening our promotion structure and holding seminars and other events. We are pursuing the SDGs as a united group, leveraging the expert functions of each of our group companies.

Strengthening of promotion structure

To support our clients' SDG and ESG initiatives, we are developing a group-wide sustainability promotion structure.

Strengthening support for sustainable businesses

Establishment of the Sustainable Development Goals Business Desk

Mizuho Bank established the Sustainable Development Goals Business Desk in June 2017 with the goal of utilizing innovation to promote economic growth and realize a sustainable society. The Business Desk leverages the collective expertise of the group to generate social impact, creating business to help local industry serve its community, designing and promoting business capable of finding solutions to social issues, developing new products for impact finance in response to the rising interest both in Japan and overseas, and working with impact-driven startups.

Initiatives to support innovative start–ups

Conclusion of the investment agreement for Japan's first "social impact bond": The new results–based public–private partnership method introduced in Hachioji City (Japanese text only) (PDF/258KB)

Achievement of interim results target for increasing number of early cancer detections through social impact bond project in Hachioji City (Japanese text only) (PDF/185KB)

Launched the Mizuho Sustainability-Linked Loan Pro (Japanese text only) (PDF/234KB)

Mizuho Sustainable Development Goals Business Design

Mizuho Information & Research Institute(Currently Mizuho Research & Technologies) launched a service called Mizuho Sustainable Development Goals Business Design, which aims to support Japanese companies in increasing their corporate value through the creation of innovative business and initiatives that contribute to the SDGs in developing countries around the world as well as within Japan.

By utilizing the insight, expertise, and networks that we have cultivated thus far in developing and expanding businesses into markets outside Japan including in developing nations, we will support companies in optimizing their businesses for the SDGs as well as development through the formation of business ecosystems.

Mizuho Sustainable Development Goals Business Design (Japanese text only)

Seminars and other events

FY2022

Joint ESG forum with Nikkei

FY2021

Joint ESG forum with Nikkei

FY2020

Joint ESG forum with Nikkei

Participation in ESG seminar hosted by Refinitiv

Joint ESG and sustainability forum with Nikkei

In December 2020, Mizuho Financial Group, Mizuho Bank, Mizuho Trust & Banking, Mizuho Securities, Mizuho Research Institute (currently Mizuho Research & Technologies), Mizuho Information & Research Institute (currently Mizuho Research & Technologies) and Asset Management One co–sponsored with Nihon Keizai Shimbun a forum on sustainability entitled Toward a New Era of Sustainability–Building a New Growth Story and the Potential of Sustainability Solutions. The objective of the forum was to deepen understanding of the viewpoints and challenges of business initiatives aimed at realizing a sustainable society from the perspectives of investors, companies, and financial institutions.
Additionally, in December 2021, Mizuho Financial Group, Mizuho Bank, Mizuho Trust & Banking, Mizuho Securities, Mizuho Research & Technologies, and Asset Management One conducted an online forum on "The Next Stage of Carbon Neutral Practices and Sustainability: Toward Achieving True SDGs" in collaboration with Nikkei Inc. With the accelerating movement toward a decarbonized society and the achievement of the SDGs, this forum aimed to shed light on perceptions of corporate initiatives and deepen understanding of the challenges being faced to achieve a sustainable society from the perspectives of investors, corporations, and financial institutions. And, in December 2022, Mizuho Financial Group, Mizuho Bank, Mizuho Trust & Banking, Mizuho Securities, Mizuho Research & Technologies and Asset Management One again joined forces with Nikkei Inc. to organize an online forum on “The Merits of Sustainable Business: Transition in Practice and Engagement with Emerging Initiatives (Biodiversity, Human Capital, Impact Investments,” bringing together internal and external experts and practitioners in sustainability issues to deliver inspiring lectures and panel discussions.

Participation in ESG seminar hosted by Refinitiv

In October 2020, Mizuho Bank participated as a panelist in an ESG seminar hosted by Refinitiv. Mizuho Bank introduced various ESG financing methods and led discussions on market trends and future prospects.