Sumitomo Corp

The Corporate Sustainability Department is in charge of the planning and promotion of Sumitomo Corporation's sustainability-related initiatives. The department ensures that sustainability is implemented groupwide by coordinating with the general managers and other relevant staff of each business unit's Planning & Coordination Department, who are responsible for promoting sustainability within each business unit, and with the staff of relevant corporate departments and overseas regional organizations. The Corporate Sustainability Committee operates as an advisory body to the Management Council, reporting and referring important sustainability-related initiatives to the Management Council and the Board of Directors. This system ensures that sustainability promotion is subject to decision by the Management Council and supervision by the Board of Directors. [...] The Corporate Sustainability Department may also participate in the discussion for making decisions on investments. This system ensures comprehensive management of the different social and environmental risks of each business.

When assessing whether to join membership with an industry group, we confirm whether the group's climate change initiatives are consistent with our policy on climate change. Also, we implement appropriate climate change countermeasures regardless of the level of influence of the affiliated industry group.

Describe the process(es) your organization has in place to ensure that your engagement activities are consistent with your overall climate change strategy[…]The Japan International Trade Association is a trade industry association consisting mainly of trading companies and trade organizations. We have established the Environmental Action Standards in line with our management philosophy and approach to addressing global environmental issues. We will also collect opinions from the trading industry and make policy recommendations on climate change as needed through Keidanren. As an example of policy proposals, the "Recommendations for COP 26" was submitted in October 2021. Our company participates in regular meetings, exchanges opinions with other companies, and makes policy recommendations on climate change as needed. In fiscal 2021, our company served as Vice President of the Japan External Trade Organization, under the leadership of which our company has continued its activities.

The Japan International Trade Association's Carbon Neutral Action Plan for a low-carbon society sets a target of reducing electricity consumption by 1% per unit of production every year compared to fiscal 2013. Our company is also contributing to climate change by reducing CO2 emissions through energy-saving activities, with the goal of reducing electricity use by 1% annually.

Japan actively participates in discussions on the long-term vision for climate change action formulated in March 2020, and leads efforts to ensure consistency with our company's climate change strategy.
The progress of JETRO activities is reported to the Corporate Sustainability Committee and the Board of Directors as necessary.

Does your organization have a public commitment or position statement to conduct your engagement activities in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement?[…]Yes