Japan leads the way on biodiversity

Japan is showing “impressive leadership” in adopting the guidelines released by the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) last year, underscoring the country’s deep appreciation of nature, says Guy Williams. Of the 320 companies that have signed up so far, an “astonishing” 81 are headquartered in Japan. Why have Japanese firms, in particular, been such early adopters? Firstly and most importantly, unlike in the West, where the dominant belief is that natural assets will be “degraded to the point of catastrophe” if shared, in Japan, satoyama, meaning landscape used for its resources, sometimes by a community, reflects a view of nature that is tied to custodianship. This connection is usually not just a transactional one, but also “deeply cultural, emotional and cross-generational”. There’s also an awareness that Japan, an economic powerhouse with supply chains that are often long and “geographically dispersed”, is likely to have had an outsize impact on the environment. Lastly, Japan has spotted the “emerging opportunity”, not only in tackling climate change but also in “delivering conservation and biodiversity outcomes”. It is vital that its efforts are not restricted to “within the country’s borders”.