Japan’s approach to sustainable finance and regulatory practice

Japan is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 46% by 2030. To do so, the country has focused on developing transition finance, an approach designed to support polluting companies that are trying to reduce their carbon footprints. Satoshi Ikeda, chief sustainable finance officer at Japan’s Financial Services Agency, spoke with Katerina Atkins, programme coordinator of OMFIF’s Sustainable Policy Institute. They discussed Japan’s approach to sustainable finance and regulatory practice, guidelines for climate transition finance, transition bond issuance and preventing greenwashing.