Participation in Outside Initiatives

The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is a partnership between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the global financial sector. Its objective is to promote the adoption of the best environmental and sustainability practices at all levels of operations at financial institutions in order to strengthen the relationship between sustainability and financial performance. DBJ became the first Japanese bank to sign and join UNEP FI in 2001. As part of its initiatives, DBJ co-hosted the 2003 UNEP FI Global Roundtable in Japan and issued the conference statement, the Tokyo Principles.

The Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) are a set of investment principles proposed by the United Nations in 2006, requiring signatories to incorporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues into their investment decision-making from a long-term perspective. DBJ became a signatory to the PRI in 2011.

The United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) is the world's largest sustainability initiative, launched under the leadership of then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Its objective is to build a healthy global society through the voluntary adoption and implementation of ten principles related to human rights, labor, the environment, and anti-corruption. DBJ became a signatory in May 2023.

The Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) is a private-sector task force established by the Financial Stability Board (FSB) in 2015. It published its final report in June 2017, recommending that companies and other organizations disclose information on climate-related risks and opportunities. DBJ expressed its support for the TCFD recommendations in June 2018 and has been studying and promoting appropriate information disclosure initiatives while recognizing climate-related risks and opportunities.

The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) is an international initiative working to develop a framework for the appropriate assessment and disclosure of risks and opportunities related to natural capital and biodiversity. Recognizing that the conservation of natural capital and biodiversity is a critical issue in achieving a sustainable society alongside climate change mitigation, DBJ joined the TNFD Forum in April 2022.

The Equator Principles are a framework under which financial institutions consider the environmental and social impacts of financing large-scale development projects. DBJ adopted the Principles in July 2020 and identifies, evaluates, and manages environmental and social risks based on the Principles.

The Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) was established in 2009, primarily by major European pension funds, to assess the sustainability performance of real estate companies and asset managers. DBJ became the first Japanese investor member of GRESB in 2014, and has served on its Advisory Board since September 2016. Through its own DBJ Green Building Certification Program, DBJ continues to promote real estate sustainability and support ESG investment in the real estate sector.

The Poseidon Principles are a framework through which global financial institutions collaborate to promote climate action in the maritime industry. DBJ became a signatory in 2021 and discloses annually the contribution of its ship finance to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.