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AsiaElec EMISSIONS AsiaElec
Toshiba sets 50% emissions
reduction target
JAPAN TOSHIBA has announced plans to reduce its in the same period a year earlier.
CO2 emissions by 50% by 2030 and by 80% by Toshiba maintained its profit forecast for the
2050, while it also aims to contribute to the crea- year ending March at JPY110bn ($1bn), down
tion of a net-zero society by 2050. 15.7% from a year earlier.
It will also stop taking orders for new coal- The new Environmental Future Vision 2050
fired power plants, moving in line with a global policy now calls for a 50% reduction in green-
shift towards reducing carbon emissions, Japan’s house gas (GHG) emissions throughout Toshi-
Nikkei reported. ba’s value chain by 2030, with 2019 as a base year.
By unveiling its Environmental Future Vision This target would then rise to 80% by 2050.
2050 this week, Toshiba has now joined a num- This interim target then aims to contribute
ber of major polluting industrial companies, as towards realising a net-zero emissions society
well as governments, in welcoming the demands by 2050.
of the Paris Agreement and setting emissions Toshiba said it would focus its efforts on three
reductions targets. areas: climate change, the circular economy and
The company’s statement said that it aims to ecosystems.
drive forward decarbonisation and the transition To combat climate change, Toshiba will
to a circular economy and a society that lives in expand its investment in energy-saving equip-
harmony with nature. ment and the use of renewable energy, leverage
Toshiba said it would increase its annual its technologies to create products and services
investment in renewables fivefold to JPY160bn that contribute to GHG reductions, and pro-
($1.52bn) by fiscal 2022. mote businesses that involve climate adaptation
While it is stopping new orders for coal-burn- measures.
ing plants, it will still build about 10 stations To boost the circular economy, Toshiba will
under existing contracts in Japan, Vietnam and reduce waste generated by its business activities
other countries. and increase recycling of used products and
The new 50% emissions target is a major over- parts.
haul of the company’s previous Environmental It will apply its digital technologies to build-
Vision 2050 document, which was drafted in ing circular economy business models.
2007 and calls for much less stringent targets. Ultimately, Toshiba aims to reduce the envi-
The company said that it was reacting in ronmental impacts of its products and services
response to international developments, such as throughout their lifecycle, thereby contributing
the Paris Agreement and its measures to counter to the realisation of a sustainable society.
climate change. Crucially, it will integrate business and envi-
The new targets came just before the company ronmental management, meaning that all its
reported a 64% drop in quarterly operating profit business and investment decisions will have to
as it struggled with the impact of the coronavirus take environmental factors into account. This is
(COVID-19) pandemic, Reuters reported. all part of improving its environmental, social
Operating profit for the second quarter and governance (ESG) performance, the com-
ending in September came to JPY15.75bn pany said.
($149.84mn), down from JPY44.23bn ($429mn)
P8 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 45 11•November•2020
