ESG: Nature-related guidelines to support dialogue with companies

Research evidence excerpt

ESG: Nature-related guidelines to support dialogue with companies

ESG: Nature-related guidelines to support Global Markets Research

dialogue with companies 4 July 2026

EQUITY: JAPAN ESG

Expected to be published by Japan’s Ministry of the Research Analysts

Environment in Jul–Sep 2026, ahead of COP17 Japan ESG research Sahoko Goshima - NSC

sahoko.goshima@nomura.com

Clarifying nature-related disclosure items and indicators +81 3 6703 1740

Kazuya Nakagawa - NSC

Two types of guidelines for investors and companies to be published by MOE kazuya.nakagawa@nomura.com

Japan's Ministry of the Environment has released drafts of the Practical Guidelines for +81 3 6703 1184

Nature Finance for investors and financial institutions and the Guidelines for Implementing

Nature-Positive Practices in Procurement, aimed at companies. The final versions are

scheduled to be published in Jul–Sep 2026 (Figure 1). The Practical Guidelines for Nature

Finance provide evaluation criteria for assessing company's nature-related disclosures

and sample questions for engagement. The Guidelines for Implementing Nature-Positive

Practices in Procurement clarify the extent to which companies should implement nature-

related initiatives in their procurement activities.

Issues with engagement between investors and companies

In developing the two sets of guidelines, core-member meetings were held with experts,

including investors and companies, and opinions were gathered on the challenges faced

by investors and companies (Figure 2). Investors noted the lack of clarity about evaluation

criteria for assessing companies. Companies, meanwhile, noted that it would be easier for

them to determine their response policies if the specific extent to which they should