Azbil Corporation announced that it has been named by environmental nonprofit CDP to the CDP 2021 “A List” — the highest rating — for climate change and has also been rated “A−“ (A minus) for water security, indicating that the company is recognized as a leader for its initiatives and information disclosure regarding climate change and water security.
The CDP’s assessment of companies is recognized as the gold standard of corporate environmental transparency. In 2021, the CDP surveyed approximately 12,000 companies around the globe and evaluated them on a scale from A to D- based on their targets, initiatives and disclosed information in areas related to climate change, water security and forests. Companies that received the highest ranking for climate change by joining the “A List” numbered 200 worldwide.
Based on the philosophy of “human-centered automation,” the azbil Group aims to ensure its own sound growth over the medium to long term and sustainably increase its corporate value by contributing “in series” to the achievement of a sustainable society through its business. Based on the idea of integrated environmental corporate management, the Group responds to climate change through a wide range of actions to tackle global warming including energy-saving activities that make use of Azbil systems and equipment.
Simultaneously, the azbil Group has set environmental targets approved by the international organization Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)1 for achieving the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping global temperature increase below 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels. In addition, support for the recommendations by the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) is also being undertaken and based on those recommendations, the Group discloses information on governance, strategy, risk management, and targets and goals. Furthermore, as a unique initiative, the Group offers automation-related products, services, and solutions that help customers reduce CO2 emissions at their sites, and by fiscal year 2030, aims to achieve an annual CO2 reduction2 of 3.4 million metric tons.
In dealing with water security, the azbil Group engages in initiatives to continually reduce the amount of water usage, while at the same time, identifying offices and bases that are high risk from a water usage standpoint and preparing for business continuity.
Being named to the “A List” for climate change and earning an “A−“ rating for water security is believed to be due to the Group undertaking initiatives and goals related to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and proactive information disclosure on water-related risk assessment, governance, risks and opportunities.
Based on the Group philosophy of “human-centered automation,” the azbil Group is striving to fulfill its 2050 Long-Term Vision for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions to reduce GHG emissions from its own business activities to substantially zero, while also contributing “in series” to the achievement of a sustainable society.
1 The SBTi is a collaboration between the CDP, World Resources Institute, World Wide Fund for Nature, and United Nations Global Compact, and helps corporations achieve science-based targets (SBT) for reducing CO2 emissions.
2 The azbil Group’s goals for the SDGs
The azbil Group has established and is undertaking the “Essential Goals for azbil Group for SDGs,” which are four concrete targets (Environment and Energy; New Automation; Supply Chain and Social Responsibility; and Health and Well-Being Management and An Organization That Never Stops Learning) that the Group is continuously reevaluating and improving. The targets for reducing GHG emissions are as follows.
- Reducing CO2 at customers’ sites (by FY2030): 3.4 million metric tons/year
- Reducing GHG emissions from business activities (scopes 1+2): 55% (from a 2017 base year) (reapproved in August 2021 by the SBTi to match their goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius)
- Reducing GHG emissions across the Group’s supply chain (scope 3): 20% (from a 2017 base year)
