Declaration of Biodiversity by Keidanren
Revised Edition

October 16, 2018
Keidanren (Japan Business Federation)

Revision to “Declaration of Biodiversity by Keidanren and Action Policy”
Formulation of Declaration of Biodiversity by Keidanren (March 2009)
Prior to COP10 held in Nagoya and the adoption of a new international agreement on biodiversity(Aichi Biodiversity Targets) in 2010, Keidanren formulated seven principles to further promoteactions contributing to biodiversity, outlining voluntary actions and practical ideas for business.

2010・COP10 in Aichi・Adoption of Aichi
Biodiversity Targets

AichiBiodiversityTargets
2010 ➡2020

SDGs
2015

ISO14001
Revision
2015

Paris
Agreement
2015

2020
・Target year of Aichi Biodiversity
Targets
・COP15 in Beijing
・Adoption of post-2020 globalbiodiversity framework

United Nations Decadeon Biodiversity 2011 ~ 2020

First revision in 9 years< Key point of revision >1. Refinement of declaration and action policy based on important issues andactions by business since 2009
2. Contribution to SDGs by promoting corporate management recognizing theimportance of biodiversity, with the aim of “Realizing a sustainable society
through building a society in harmony with nature”
3. Further promotion of “mainstreaming of biodiversity” by broadening the basisfor actions

2

Revision of the Declaration of Biodiversity by Keidanren
October 16, 2018
Keidanren (Japan Business Federation)
Human life is fully bound up with nature. Living in modern society, we tend to forget that most of ourgoods and services, including our food and clothing, and our energy sources are all derived fromnature. On the other hand, we are often left awestruck by nature in the face of destruction caused bynatural disasters such as the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Keidanren established the Keidanren Committee on Nature Conservation and its associated Keidanren
Nature Conservation Fund (KNCF) in 1992, when the Earth Summit (the United Nations Conferenceon Environment and Development) was held. Since then, Keidanren has been developing various
biodiversity conservation activities. KNCF has supported NGOs both in Japan and overseas toimplement conservation projects, with funds amounting to about JPY 4 billion in total over the last 25years or so. Prior to the adoption of the “Aichi Biodiversity Targets” at the 10th Meeting of theConference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP10), Keidanren publishedthe “Declaration of Biodiversity by Keidanren” in 2009 and urged member companies to take actions
accordingly. This is fully in line with Keidanren’s basic principle (the Keidanren Environment
Initiative) that “companies will take voluntary and proactive actions towards realizing harmonization
between environment and economy”.
Keidanren is committed to SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) adopted by the United Nations in2015 as a priority issue, and is working on “delivering on the SDGs through the realization of Society5.0”. Ahead of the final year of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets in 2020, discussions are getting under
way on the “post-2020 global biodiversity framework”. In response to this overall domestic andinternational trend, Keidanren will revise the “Declaration of Biodiversity by Keidanren” and “ActionPolicy”. The revised declaration aims at “realizing a sustainable society through building a society inharmony with nature”.
Building a society in harmony with nature is closely related to measures to deal with climate change
and resource circulation. Actions based on this declaration also contribute to achieving the SDGs.
“Integration between corporate activities and environmental countermeasures” will be required,making sure that corporate activities include a wide range of environmental activities including thoserelated to low/zero-carbonization, resource circulation, and biodiversity conservation. Based upon thisconcept, we will promote the “Integrated Environmental Corporate Management”.
Biodiversity is a global issue in much the same way as climate change, but at the same time it is a local
challenge characterized by diverse local features. Thus, companies are encouraged to promote local
actions according to local characteristics to conserve biodiversity, while striving to extend their actions
across national borders to include the global supply chain.
We would like to see not only our member companies but also many other companies develop activities
based on the spirit of the “Declaration of Biodiversity by Keidanren / Action Policy”, and thereby
further advance the “mainstreaming of biodiversity”.

3Declaration of Biodiversity by Keidanren (Revised edition)
Keidanren (Japan Business Federation)
Introduced March 17, 2009
Revised October 16, 2018

Responsibility of management

Commit to corporate management aiming at corporate activities
in harmony with nature towards realizing a sustainable society

1

We will conduct our corporate management, recognizing that our corporate activities depend upon nature’s gifts
derived from biodiversity, and that they have the potential to impact on the ecosystem.
Being mindful of both our gratitude for nature’s gifts and our awe in the face of its threats, we will build a society
in harmony with nature where nature and human beings can coexist, and thereby contribute to realizing asustainable society.
use of biodiversity.

[Action Policy]

1-1
Top management will recognize the importance of biodiversity and essential functions of nature, and strive tounderstand the relationship between biodiversity and their corporate activities, based upon which top management
will execute proper corporate management.
1 -2
Top management will recognize the importance of actions for biodiversity, develop a clear vision, provide
leadership, and thereby contribute to achieving the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).
1 -3
Top management will conduct timely and proper information disclosure for and engage in dialogue on theirbiodiversity initiatives, targeting a wide range of stakeholders including consumers, customers, and investors.

2

Global perspective
Act from a global perspective on the biodiversity crisis

We strongly recognize that we are influenced by nature beyond national borders, and share a sense of crisis thatbiodiversity is being diminished. Biodiversity is a global issue in much the same way as climate change.
Recognizing the importance of actions on biodiversity by group companies as well as throughout the global
supply chain, we are fully aware that actions on biodiversity are essential to sustain corporate activities, includingprocurement of raw materials.
In addition, we will take actions to conserve biodiversity, taking fully into account various local features. We
will further work on fair and equitable use of biological resources including genetic resources, and thereby strive
for sustainable use of biodiversity.

[Action Policy]

2-1
In developing and implementing business plans, we will identify the potential impacts that group companies
could have on ecosystems and local communities both in international and national contexts, and take concrete
actions accordingly for biodiversity conservation. We will also strive to extend the same approach to the global
supply chain, by gaining an understanding of the potential relationship with biodiversity and encouraging
appropriate actions to be taken.
2 -2
We will fully take into account domestic measures (ABS guidelines) of the “Nagoya Protocol on Access andBenefit Sharing” in utilizing genetic resources and sharing associated profits, and comply with laws enacted by
the provider country concerned when acquiring genetic resources.

4Voluntary actions

3

Act voluntarily and steadily to contribute to biodiversity

We recognize that corporate activities to help build common values among regions and societies tend to lead tothe enhancement of medium-to-long term corporate values. Keeping this in mind, we will take voluntary andsteady actions towards building a society in harmony with nature.
Our approaches will differ depending on industry sectors, business modes and local features, reflecting diverse
relationships with biodiversity.

[Action Policy]

3-1
We will identify, analyze and evaluate potential impacts of our business activities on biodiversity. With that inmind, we will contribute to conservation of biodiversity and its sustainable use, throughout all stages ranging
from procurement of raw materials, design / manufacturing / assembly, transportation, product sales / service
provision, to waste disposal / recycling.
3 -2
We will strive to develop, utilize and disseminate technologies that contribute to conservation and sustainable
use of biodiversity.
3 -3On-site practical activities are the basis of efforts to conserve biodiversity. In cases where there is no option but
to resort to the use of trading or compensation (e.g. offsetting) based upon economic assessment of local
biodiversity, we will advocate dialogue with local stakeholders and thoroughly evaluate its effectiveness, taking
care not to fall back on easy actions.
3 -4
In cases where a clear relationship between corporate activities and biodiversity is difficult to identify, we will
voluntarily and proactively promote activities leading to the creation of social values as a part of social
responsibility activities, which include donations to foundations, support for activities initiated by employees,
and thereby contribute to achieving SDGs.

4Integrated Environmental Corporate Management
Promote Integrated Environmental Corporate Management

Recognizing that measures to deal with climate change and resource circulation are closely linked to building asociety in harmony with nature, we will promote the “Integrated Environmental Corporate Management”,
making sure that corporate activities include a wide range of environmental activities including those related tolow / zero-carbonization, resource circulation, and biodiversity conservation.

[Action Policy]

4-1
Towards realizing a low-carbon society, we voluntarily and proactively reduce greenhouse gas emissions on aglobal scale.
4 -2
Towards building a Recycling-based society, we practice thorough and proper treatment of waste, and voluntarily
and proactively engage ourselves in the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle).

5

Revitalization of regions making full use of natural capital

Contribute to regional revitalization utilizing natural capital, holding
nature in awe

5

Holding nature in awe, we respect traditionally nurtured wisdom and views concerning co-existence with nature.
We will leverage the natural capital of a region, and thereby contribute to realizing affluent lifestyles for theregion as well as strengthening of resilience of the national land against disasters.

[Action Policy]

5-1
We will deepen our understanding on various measures for disaster risk reduction by taking full advantage ofregional ecosystem functions, and thereby contribute to making regions safe and secure.
5 -2
We will utilize functions of the natural capital inherent to a region, and thereby contribute to the revitalization of
the region.
5 -3
We will strive to recover biodiversity when conducting corporate activities in regions, both in and outside ofJapan, where the original natural environment has already suffered significant damage, as typically found incities and some parts of Satochi-Satoyama (socio-ecological production landscapes).

6Partnership
Collaborate with relevant international and national organizations

We will collaborate with stakeholders, both in international and national contexts, to develop a better awarenessand recognition of the importance of biodiversity to ensure more effective efforts are taken on biodiversity.
Furthermore we will improve, share, and utilize relevant knowledge and know-how through collaboration andcoordination.

[Action Policy]

6-1
We will endeavor to expand communications, and to promote project level association and collaboration with,among others, NGOs, education / research institutions, local governments, business entities in and outside Japan.

6

Environmental Education / Human Resource Development

Spearhead initiatives on environmental education and human resource
development to create a society that will nurture biodiversity

7

Based upon in-depth understanding on biodiversity, we will communicate with society, spearheading ongoing
initiatives to develop human resources, and thereby raise awareness on biodiversity across society as a whole inan effort to bring the issue into the mainstream.

[Action Policy]

7-1
We will actively implement education on the natural environment for employees in collaboration with local
communities and NGOs.
7 -2
We will implement environmental education for stakeholders such as local residents, cooperate with educational
activities conducted by, among others, schools and NGOs, and thereby widely disseminate the awareness ofnurturing biodiversity throughout society as a whole.

We recognize that biodiversity is an important foundation for a sustainable society, and we will act to contributeto biodiversity in collaboration and cooperation by sharing roles and responsibilities with all people as a memberof the international community. We hereby declare that we aim to “realize a sustainable society through building
a society in harmony with nature”.
End7

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