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Policy Proposals  Business Law Action plan of Keidanren, UTokyo and GPIF to realize Society 5.0 for SDGs

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Keidanren UTokyo GPIF
Action plan of Keidanren, UTokyo and GPIF
to realize Society 5.0 for SDGs

The three parties of the Japan Business Federation ("Keidanren" hereinafter), the University of Tokyo ("UTokyo" hereinafter), and the Government Pension Investment Fund ("GPIF" hereinafter) hereby declare that they will implement the following action plan to realize "Society 5.0 for SDGs." This is a concept originating in Japan which seizes current changes such as the imminent development of digital transformation (DX), changing socioeconomic structure, increasing sense of crisis regarding global environmental issues, and shifting people's mindsets as an opportunity to achieve mid- to long-term economic growth ("Society 5.0" hereinafter).

Actions to be implemented by all parties

Improving recognition and understanding of Society 5.0

  • Publicizing Society 5.0 at home and abroad
  • Promoting incorporation of Society 5.0 into the stewardship principles for companies and investors at home and abroad

Keidanren

Encouraging companies and initiatives to achieve Society 5.0

  • Promoting the action plan for corporate transformation as outlined in Keidanren's recommendations on Society 5.0 and the Charter of Corporate Behavior
  • Further promoting initiatives to solve problems through innovation (e.g., "Challenge Zero" Initiative)
  • Promoting matching of ESG investors with companies promoting Society 5.0
  • Promoting initiatives for the evolution of the venture ecosystem
  • Fostering investment through corporate pension and promoting stewardship activities to realize Society 5.0
  • Promoting development and dissemination of financial products (investment trust, etc.) related to Society 5.0

Further consideration to realize Society 5.0

  • Presenting the industrial structure of Society 5.0 and the action plan for corporate transformation through the council on Digital Transformation
  • Engaging with various stakeholders including the government to realize Society 5.0 through each committee

UTokyo

  • Conducting research on the desirable socioeconomic system that supports Society 5.0 and the strategy to steer the current system in that direction, including research on global commons in both physical and cyberspace
  • Cultivating talented people to lead Society 5.0 as professionals and entrepreneurs with knowledge
  • Accelerating efforts to create industry-academia collaboration, including the creation of a venture ecosystem model centered on universities, in cooperation with relevant organizations
  • Developing institutional and framework research and investment methods to encourage investment in companies and other entities that will lead the realization of Society 5.0 for SDGs, including research on optimal ways of assessing social impacts

GPIF

The GPIF will consider the following initiatives in light of the view that sustainable growth of the investment portfolio and the market as a whole is necessary for a greater long-term investment return on invested assets in the management of reserve funds.

  • Consideration of incorporating Society 5.0 and SDGs into its Investment Principles and the like
  • Encouraging information disclosure on Society 5.0 with a view to promoting ESG investment
  • Collaborating with various stakeholders, including fund managers, to evolve ESG investment
  • Promoting constructive engagement and conducting research on appropriate evaluation methods to connect ESG with Society 5.0
  • Conducting ongoing research into the long-term performance of companies that will help to realize Society 5.0
  • Leveraging ESG investors' insights to develop and spread Society 5.0-related financial products
March 26, 2020
In the hope of growth and problem-solving for Japan and the world,
NAKANISHI Hiroaki
Chairman, Keidanren
GONOKAMI Makoto
President, UTokyo
TAKAHASHI Norihiro
President, GPIF

Business Law