Basic Approach to Sustainability

Through sustainability management, we strengthen the linkage between the Group’s sustainable growth and regional value. In addition, we enhance transparency in our disclosures to build long-term, trusted relationships with our stakeholders.
To support these initiatives, we established the Group Sustainability Policy in December 2021 to enhance regional value as a corporate group and ensure this commitment is shared across the Group.

Materiality

To contribute to a sustainable society, we have identified key ESG issues (“materiality”).
Guided by the Group Sustainability Policy, we will proactively address the following 12 material issues through our business activities.

Materiality Identification Process

Alignment with the YMFG Medium-Term Management Plan (FY2025–FY2029)

In the YMFG Medium-Term Management Plan (FY2025–FY2029), which commenced in FY2025, the sustainability strategy is positioned as one of the strategies constituting “Basic Goal 3: Deepening the Multi-Bank, Single Platform.”
By steadily advancing initiatives under the three priority themes of the sustainability strategy, we will further deepen sustainability-driven management and increase our corporate value.

Sustainability Promotion Structure

The Group holds regular meetings of the Sustainability Promotion Committee, chaired by the President and CEO. The Committee centrally deliberates on and manages the progress of sustainability initiatives.

Matters discussed by the Sustainability Promotion Committee are, as appropriate, further deliberated by the Group Executive Committee before being submitted to the Board of Directors, which oversees the Group’s sustainability initiatives.

In addition, the Group has established function-specific working groups under the Committee to promote initiatives across the organization through a cross-functional framework.

推進体制

Main Agenda Items Submitted to the Board of Directors (since FY2023)

FY2023

  • Formulation of annual plans by each working group
  • Progress of sustainability initiatives and future actions
  • Review of the sustainability promotion framework (including the establishment of the Advisory Board and the Sustainability Promotion Office)
  • Direction of CO2 (Scope 1 and Scope 2) emission reductions
  • Results of the FY2023 Ministry of the Environment project:“Support for Carbon Analysis of Financial Institution Portfolios”

FY2024

  • Formulation of annual plans by each working group
  • Progress of sustainability initiatives and future actions
  • Review of the sustainability promotion framework (including the establishment of the Human Rights Working Group)
  • Progress of initiatives to support customers in achieving carbon neutrality and future actions
  • Status of the Group’s evaluations in major external assessments (including ESG ratings) and future actions

FY2025

  • Formulation of annual plans by each working group
  • Progress of sustainability initiatives and future actions
  • Publication of the ESG Data Book
  • Formulation of sustainability-related policies (including environmental policy, conflict of interest policy, procurement policy, and anti-corruption policy)
  • Revision of sustainability-related policies (including human rights policy and responsible investment policy considering environmental and social factors)
  • Initial assessment of nature-related issues and future actions
  • Progress of initiatives to promote women’s participation and advancement and future actions
  • Identification and assessment of human rights risks within the Group and future actions

Overview of the Sustainability Promotion Committee

Composition

Meeting Frequency

Chair

  • President and CEO

Held once every three months, in principle

(FY2025: 8 meetings held)

Vice Chair

  • General Manager, Corporate Planning Administration Group

Members

  • Directors (excluding outside directors and Audit & Supervisory Committee members)
  • Executive Officers (General Managers of Head Office groups)
  • General Manager, Corporate Planning Department
  • General Manager, Human Capital Management Department
  • General Manager, Compliance Administration Department
  • General Manager, Sustainability Promotion Office
  • Heads of Group banks

Executive Compensation Linked to Sustainability Performance

The Group positions sustainability initiatives as a key management priority that contributes to enhancing corporate value over the medium to long term. From the perspective of enhancing the effectiveness of these initiatives, sustainability-related metrics are incorporated into the evaluation criteria for the executive compensation framework.
Specifically, “ESG evaluation (FTSE ESG Score),” as well as indicators related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) and the environment, have been adopted as non-financial metrics in the calculation of performance-linked compensation.

Advisory Board

The Group has established an Advisory Board as a consultative body to the Sustainability Promotion Committee in April 2024, with the aim of further advancing sustainability management. 
By leveraging the broad expertise of external experts*, the Group seeks to appropriately identify ESG issues arising from rapid changes in the external environment, as well as those affecting the Group and local communities, and to strengthen its responses to these challenges.

  • As an external expert serving as a member of the Advisory Board, the Group has invited Mr. Kenji Fuma, a leading authority in sustainability management and President and CEO of Neural, Inc. Through Mr. Fuma’s participation, the Group aims to further strengthen its sustainability initiatives.

Main Topics Discussed at the Advisory Board

FY2024

  • Carbon neutrality and industrial transformation in local communities
  • The future of regional economies and ESG-driven regional finance
  • Nature-positive initiatives and related industries

FY2025

  • Carbon neutrality and strategic initiatives of regional financial institutions
  • Human rights due diligence expected of companies
  • Trends among regional financial institutions in response to natural capital and biodiversity
  • Developments in DE&I promotion and recent topics in Japan

Sustainability Targets

  1. Cumulative amount executed for the period from FY2022 to FY2031.
  2. Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions are included.
  3. The YMFG Medium-Term Management Plan (FY2025–FY2029) aims to achieve, one year ahead of schedule, the medium- to long-term target announced in November 2022 to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions (Scope 1 and Scope 2) by FY2030.
  4. Diverse human capital includes women, non-Japanese employees, mid-career hires, alumni, employees engaged in side jobs, and employees with experience in external secondments.
  5. Targets to be achieved by FY2029.