Shiga Bank Group Achieves Carbon Neutrality
Shiga Bank Group has achieved carbon neutrality (Scopes 1 & 2) for FY2025, reaching the goal ahead of schedule. This marks the first time a regional bank headquartered in the Kinki region has accomplished Scope 1 & 2 carbon neutrality.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 8, 2026 at 02:31
- 🔍 Collected: May 7, 2026 at 18:02
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 7, 2026 at 18:13 (11 min after Collected)
Shiga Bank (Head office: Otsu City; President: Shin-ya Kubota) has achieved carbon neutrality (*1), effectively bringing the Shiga Bank Group's greenhouse gas emissions (Scopes 1 & 2) for fiscal year 2025 to net-zero. This is the first time a regional bank headquartered in the Kinki region has achieved Scope 1 & 2 carbon neutrality. (As of May 2026, based on our own research, among regional banks headquartered in the Kinki region for 'net-zero' and 'carbon neutrality').
■ Achieving 8th Mid-Term Management Plan Goals Ahead of Schedule
In its 8th Mid-Term Management Plan (April 1, 2024 - March 31, 2029), the Bank set a goal to reduce the Group's greenhouse gas emissions and achieve Scope 1 & 2 carbon neutrality. This initiative has realized this goal two years ahead of the plan period.
■ Achieved Through Reduction Efforts and Utilization of Environmental Value Created by the Group (*2)
Since establishing its environmental policy in 1999, the Bank has promoted decarbonization efforts across the Group, including introducing energy-saving equipment, improving operational efficiency, and using renewable energy electricity. As a result, greenhouse gas emissions (Scopes 1 & 2) as of the end of fiscal year 2024 have been reduced to approximately one-third compared to fiscal year 2013.
For fiscal year 2025, the Bank utilized sufficient non-fossil certificates (*3) created by Shigagin Energy, which used renewable energy electricity, and appropriately offset unavoidable emissions with J-Credits (*4).
A 'Third-Party Assurance Report' was obtained from SOCOTEC Certification Japan Co., Ltd. regarding the calculation results of greenhouse gas emissions (Scopes 1 & 2) for fiscal year 2025 and the appropriateness of carbon offsets for achieving carbon neutrality.
■ Towards More Fundamental Emission Reduction
Starting April 2026, the Bank launched a 'self-production for self-consumption' initiative (*5), utilizing renewable energy generated by FIT solar power plants owned by Shigagin Energy within the Shiga Bank Group.
Going forward, by utilizing locally generated renewable energy, the Shiga Bank Group will further reduce its own emissions and accelerate efforts toward realizing a decarbonized society.
Defining its purpose as 'making the region happy with Sanpo-yoshi,' the Shiga Bank Group is addressing climate change as a key challenge. As a regional financial institution, we will continue to proactively advance climate change response, contributing to the decarbonization of the entire region and the development of a sustainable regional economy.
*1 Carbon Neutrality
Refers to the state of achieving net-zero emissions over a certain period by preferentially implementing reductions in scientifically calculated greenhouse gas emissions through energy saving and renewable energy introduction, and then offsetting remaining emissions with reliable environmental value. The Shiga Bank Group positions the net-zero target for Scopes 1 & 2 in the 8th Mid-Term Management Plan as the achievement of carbon neutrality based on this definition.
*2 About Environmental Value
Target | Type of Environmental Value | Certification of Environmental Value
---|---|---
Scope 1 (Emissions directly generated by the Bank's business activities, etc.) | J-Credits | CO2 reduction from aluminum melting furnace update project
Scope 2 (Indirect emissions associated with electricity usage, etc.) | Non-fossil certificates | CO2 reduction from power plants owned by Shigagin Energy and solar power plants in Shiga Prefecture
*3 Non-fossil Certificates
Certificates that quantify and allow trading of the 'environmental value' of electricity generated from non-fossil fuel sources. When combined with electricity used, they certify the use of renewable energy electricity.
*4 J-Credits
National certification and tradable certificates for CO2 reductions from introducing energy-saving equipment, utilizing renewable energy, etc., and CO2 absorption from appropriate forest management.
*5 Self-production for Self-consumption Initiative
Refers to an initiative that utilizes a mechanism (FIT specific wholesale) that allows electricity generated by FIT solar power plants to be supplied wholesale to retail electricity providers 'with specific power plants designated' without going through the wholesale electricity market, thereby utilizing self-generated energy. This is a coined word viewed from the perspective of self-sufficiency. Please refer to the release on April 1, 2026, for details on Shiga Bank's self-production for self-consumption model.
■ Achieving 8th Mid-Term Management Plan Goals Ahead of Schedule
In its 8th Mid-Term Management Plan (April 1, 2024 - March 31, 2029), the Bank set a goal to reduce the Group's greenhouse gas emissions and achieve Scope 1 & 2 carbon neutrality. This initiative has realized this goal two years ahead of the plan period.
■ Achieved Through Reduction Efforts and Utilization of Environmental Value Created by the Group (*2)
Since establishing its environmental policy in 1999, the Bank has promoted decarbonization efforts across the Group, including introducing energy-saving equipment, improving operational efficiency, and using renewable energy electricity. As a result, greenhouse gas emissions (Scopes 1 & 2) as of the end of fiscal year 2024 have been reduced to approximately one-third compared to fiscal year 2013.
For fiscal year 2025, the Bank utilized sufficient non-fossil certificates (*3) created by Shigagin Energy, which used renewable energy electricity, and appropriately offset unavoidable emissions with J-Credits (*4).
A 'Third-Party Assurance Report' was obtained from SOCOTEC Certification Japan Co., Ltd. regarding the calculation results of greenhouse gas emissions (Scopes 1 & 2) for fiscal year 2025 and the appropriateness of carbon offsets for achieving carbon neutrality.
■ Towards More Fundamental Emission Reduction
Starting April 2026, the Bank launched a 'self-production for self-consumption' initiative (*5), utilizing renewable energy generated by FIT solar power plants owned by Shigagin Energy within the Shiga Bank Group.
Going forward, by utilizing locally generated renewable energy, the Shiga Bank Group will further reduce its own emissions and accelerate efforts toward realizing a decarbonized society.
Defining its purpose as 'making the region happy with Sanpo-yoshi,' the Shiga Bank Group is addressing climate change as a key challenge. As a regional financial institution, we will continue to proactively advance climate change response, contributing to the decarbonization of the entire region and the development of a sustainable regional economy.
*1 Carbon Neutrality
Refers to the state of achieving net-zero emissions over a certain period by preferentially implementing reductions in scientifically calculated greenhouse gas emissions through energy saving and renewable energy introduction, and then offsetting remaining emissions with reliable environmental value. The Shiga Bank Group positions the net-zero target for Scopes 1 & 2 in the 8th Mid-Term Management Plan as the achievement of carbon neutrality based on this definition.
*2 About Environmental Value
Target | Type of Environmental Value | Certification of Environmental Value
---|---|---
Scope 1 (Emissions directly generated by the Bank's business activities, etc.) | J-Credits | CO2 reduction from aluminum melting furnace update project
Scope 2 (Indirect emissions associated with electricity usage, etc.) | Non-fossil certificates | CO2 reduction from power plants owned by Shigagin Energy and solar power plants in Shiga Prefecture
*3 Non-fossil Certificates
Certificates that quantify and allow trading of the 'environmental value' of electricity generated from non-fossil fuel sources. When combined with electricity used, they certify the use of renewable energy electricity.
*4 J-Credits
National certification and tradable certificates for CO2 reductions from introducing energy-saving equipment, utilizing renewable energy, etc., and CO2 absorption from appropriate forest management.
*5 Self-production for Self-consumption Initiative
Refers to an initiative that utilizes a mechanism (FIT specific wholesale) that allows electricity generated by FIT solar power plants to be supplied wholesale to retail electricity providers 'with specific power plants designated' without going through the wholesale electricity market, thereby utilizing self-generated energy. This is a coined word viewed from the perspective of self-sufficiency. Please refer to the release on April 1, 2026, for details on Shiga Bank's self-production for self-consumption model.