Glossary

Ouranos Ecosystem

This is part of the digital infrastructure construction that Japan is promoting to realize "Society 5.0". Led by the Ministry of Economy, Industry, it is a mechanism designed to promote cross-industry data sharing and utilization, and consists of 1) an ecosystem of organizations and human resources (a review system within the ecosystem) and 2) an ecosystem of systems (a system based on standards established by the ecosystem). Currently, efforts are being made in the fields of logistics, commercial flow, and financial flow. "People and logistics DX" aims to optimize the movement of people and goods by using self-driving cars, drones, and Service robots. "Commercial and financial DX" aims to digitize the entire transaction and ensure carbon neutrality and traceability. In addition, a mechanism is being built to ensure interoperability between systems and share data safely. This initiative aims to achieve both economic growth and solving social Issue through cooperation with domestic and international companies and government agencies.

“Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance”

Established in September 2019 by the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) and the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), it is an initiative of asset owners who commit to transitioning to a portfolio with virtually zero greenhouse gas emission amount (net zero) by 2050, with the aim of limiting global temperature rise to less than 1.5°C above pre Industry levels, which is the goal of the Paris Agreement.

“Net Zero Asset Managers initiative”

An international framework for asset management Company that aims to reduce the greenhouse gas emission amount of investment destinations to virtually zero by 2050. This initiative promotes efforts to limit the increase in global average temperature to 1.5°C compared to pre- Industry levels, which is the goal agreed upon in the Paris Agreement.

“Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS)”

An international network established to consider financial supervision responses to climate change risks. Central banks and financial supervisory authorities participate, and the purpose is to promote the management of environmental and climate risks in the financial sector and support the transition to a sustainable economy from a financial perspective. The NGFS was established at the One Planet Summit in December 2017.

The network is looking at 3 main Issue:

How to incorporate climate change risks into the supervision of Financial Institution

- How to assess the impact of climate change on the entire financial system

・Issue for promoting finance consistent with a low-carbon economy

Nitrogen trifluoride. A greenhouse gas with a greenhouse effect 17,200 times greater than that of carbon dioxide. It is difficult to decompose and remains in the atmosphere for long periods of time, so its amount is increasing year by year, raising concerns about its impact on climate change. It is mainly used in semiconductor Manufacturing and fluorine chemistry, and is synthesized by reacting ammonia with fluorine gas.

Nitrous oxide. A colorless, odorless gas composed of nitrogen and oxygen, it is a type of greenhouse gas. Although its concentration in the atmosphere is low, it has a stronger greenhouse effect than CO2 and has a significant impact on global warming. Its main sources are nitrogen fertilizers used in agriculture, livestock manure, and chemical reaction processes. It remains in the atmosphere for a long time, and when it reaches the stratosphere, NO produced by photochemical reactions breaks down ozone, leading to the destruction of the ozone layer. N2O is also used as a medical anesthetic and a foaming agent in the food Industry.