Tokyo Financial Award, ESG Investment Category: Now Accepting Candidates!

As one project in the “Global Financial City: Tokyo” Vision, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG), following last year’s program will continue hosting the “Tokyo Financial Award.” TMG has been granting a prize to financial institutions who provide and develop innovative products and services that meet Tokyo citizens and businesspeople’s needs and challenges, as well as those who work to promote ESG investments*.

We are looking for financial institutions that practice activities to promote ESG investment in line with the themes of environment, society, and governance, as well as businesses practicing SDG management initiatives.
The selection of businesses in the “ESG Investment Category” and “SDGs Category” will start from today. You are cordially invited to make your submission.

Additionally, we are still accepting candidate companies for the “Financial Innovation Category” until Tuesday, August 31.

* ESG (“Environmental, Social, Governance”) investment refers to investment decisions based on an institution’s proactive efforts such as combating global warming, empowering women, selecting outside directors, etc.

1　Set Themes

The ESG Investment Division welcomes applications from financial institutions that practice activities to promote ESG investments and SDG management in line with the 8 themes in the ESG Investment Category and the 17 SDG goals in the SDGs Category.

A. ESG Investment Category

Fields and Themes
Environment (E) Climate Change, Natural Resources, Environmental Market Opportunities
Society (S) Human Resources, Health and Safety / Human Rights, Consideration for Others
Governance (G) Corporate Governance, Corporate Behavior

B. SDGs Category

The 17 goals set out in “Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” adopted by the 70th UN General Assembly.

2　Selection Details

Eligible institutions	Domestic and international financial institutions that practice activities to promote ESG investment in line with the themes of environment, society, and governance. Domestic and international businesses (including financial institutions) that practice SDG management initiatives that meet the 17 Sustainable Development Goals
Submission period	From: Wednesday, July 21, 2021 To: Tuesday, September 28, 2021
# to be selected	Approximately 3 institutions (one of whom will also receive the Governor’s Green Finance Special Award)
How to apply	Please visit the Tokyo Financial Award website to apply: Please see submission guidelines(PDF:202KB) for details:

3　Schedule

Reference:

The 17 SDG goals

Goal 1	End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Goal 2	End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
Goal 3	Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Goal 4	Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Goal 5	Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Goal 6	Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
Goal 7	Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
Goal 8	Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
Goal 9	Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
Goal 10	Reduce inequality within and among countries
Goal 11	Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Goal 12	Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Goal 13	Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Goal 14	Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
Goal 15	Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
Goal 16	Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
Goal 17	Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

*From the United Nations Depart of Social and Economic Affairs. For more information about the 17 SDG goals, please visit to following website: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/(External link)

*Please click here for the original Japanese article