Revision of "Guidance for Encouraging Japanese Companies to Address International Initiatives on Climate Change : - Supporting Companies Making Use of Renewable Energy in Japan under Scope 2 Guidance of the GHG Protocol -"

1. Background

Recent international initiatives on climate change, (e.g., CDP, RE100 and SBT) require that global companies disclose information on their measures against climate change, and the influence of such initiatives is growing. In response to the movement, Japanese companies are also required to disclose this kind of information. The initiatives recommend companies to utilize the private standards called “GHG protocols” in calculating and reporting their GHG emissions, and these standards are becoming global.

In light of this situation, the Study Group on Encouraging Japanese Companies to Address International Initiatives on Climate Change, which METI established in October 2018, held discussions on approaches for encouraging Japanese companies, under the existing Japanese systems, to calculate their GHG emissions that meet the GHG protocol on climate change and to claim the renewable energy value. In March 2019, METI formulated “Guidance for Encouraging Japanese Companies to Address International Initiatives on Climate Change: - Supporting Companies Making Use of Renewable Energy in Japan under Scope 2 Guidance of the GHG Protocol -.”

At this time, METI revised this guidance in order to make it more useful for business operators by adding descriptions concerning renewable energy (heat) and by updating information on the status of international initiatives on climate change.

2. Major points of revision

(1) Calculation of GHG emissions from heat that meets Scope 2 Guidance

Explanations have been added with respect to the method whereby users calculate GHG emissions from heat based on GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance under the existing Japanese systems.

(2) Procurement of renewable energy (heat) and claiming of its value

Explanations have been added with respect to the relationship between international initiatives related to information disclosure and evaluation concerning measures against climate change and domestic green heat certification, and with respect to the method whereby users procure renewable energy (heat) under the existing Japanese systems.

(3) Outline of international initiatives on climate change

Information on international initiatives on climate change, such as CDP, SBT and RE100, has been updated.

Related documents

• Guidance for Encouraging Japanese Companies to Address International Initiatives on Climate Change (in Japanese) (PDF:2,467KB)PDF
• Guidance for Encouraging Japanese Companies to Address International Initiatives on Climate Change (Summary) (PDF:23KB)PDF

Division in Charge

Environmental Economy Office, Industrial Science and Technology Policy and Environment Bureau