Daishi Hokuetsu Financial Group Inc – Lobbying Governance & Transparency

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Lobbying Governance

Overall Assessment	Analysis	Score
Moderate	Daishi Hokuetsu Financial Group has implemented a governance framework for its external engagement through industry associations, overseen by its “Sustainability Promotion Committee, which is chaired by the President” and meets monthly (“12 meetings were held in fiscal 2023”). The company confirms it does have “a public commitment or position statement to conduct [its] engagement activities in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement,” and it details that “子銀行である第四北越銀行が所属している業界団体（全国地方銀行協会、および同協会のSDGs部会）での各種方針や施策については、社長を委員長とするサステナビリティ推進委員会に定期的に報告し、同委員会での施策の検討・審議後、経営会議での審議を経て、取締役会決議により決定されるプロセスとなっている。” This process involves regular reporting to the committee, deliberation within that body, review at management meetings, and final approval by the Board of Directors, demonstrating structured oversight of indirect lobbying. However, the company does not disclose any governance process specific to direct lobbying activities or a third-party audit of climate-lobbying alignment, and no dedicated climate-lobbying review report is publicly available. We found no evidence of criteria for assessing its participation in associations whose positions may conflict with its climate commitments, indicating that while there is clear oversight for industry association engagement, the company’s overall climate lobbying governance remains limited. View Sources	C

Overall Assessment

Analysis

Score

Moderate

Daishi Hokuetsu Financial Group has implemented a governance framework for its external engagement through industry associations, overseen by its “Sustainability Promotion Committee, which is chaired by the President” and meets monthly (“12 meetings were held in fiscal 2023”). The company confirms it does have “a public commitment or position statement to conduct [its] engagement activities in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement,” and it details that “子銀行である第四北越銀行が所属している業界団体（全国地方銀行協会、および同協会のSDGs部会）での各種方針や施策については、社長を委員長とするサステナビリティ推進委員会に定期的に報告し、同委員会での施策の検討・審議後、経営会議での審議を経て、取締役会決議により決定されるプロセスとなっている。” This process involves regular reporting to the committee, deliberation within that body, review at management meetings, and final approval by the Board of Directors, demonstrating structured oversight of indirect lobbying. However, the company does not disclose any governance process specific to direct lobbying activities or a third-party audit of climate-lobbying alignment, and no dedicated climate-lobbying review report is publicly available. We found no evidence of criteria for assessing its participation in associations whose positions may conflict with its climate commitments, indicating that while there is clear oversight for industry association engagement, the company’s overall climate lobbying governance remains limited.

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Lobbying Transparency

Overall Assessment	Analysis	Score
Moderate	Daishi Hokuetsu Financial Group provides a reasonable level of transparency on its climate-related lobbying. It identifies two concrete regional policy processes in which it takes part – the “新潟産業ビジョン” (Niigata Industrial Vision) and the “新潟県2050年カーボンゼロの実現に向けた戦略” – making it clear that its engagement is focused on Niigata Prefecture’s decarbonisation agenda. The company explains how it seeks to influence these policies: a group director sits as a committee member during the formulation of the Industrial Vision, and the bank works with Niigata Prefecture and local municipalities through the Decarbonization Support Platform to help businesses adopt the policy goals. It also spells out the results it wants from this lobbying, namely strengthening the prefecture’s plans so that greenhouse-gas emissions fall 46 % by 2030 and the region achieves carbon-neutrality by 2050. Although the disclosure is limited to one jurisdiction and two policy initiatives, the combination of named policies, described engagement channels and stated numerical targets shows moderate openness about the company’s climate-policy advocacy.	C