MHFG took part in Eco-Products 2009, an exhibition on the environment which took place Dec 10 to 12, 2009 at the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition center. Some 720 companies and organizations had exhibits, and the event attracted 182,510 visitors.
Mizuho used panels and models to introduce its environmental business and the environmental initiatives adopted at its offices. It also gave presentations in its booth to promote broader knowledge and understanding of the "Mizuho Eco-Cycle" which is a sequence of environment-related business development utilizing the domestic Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
Its booth attracted many visitors, and some 5,000 people cooperated in completing its questionnaire. Mizuho will make use of the opinions and impressions received from these visitors in promoting its work with the environment.
Besides, in its booth, Mizuho executed the project donating to the tree planting activity in Bali, Indonesia, cooperating with visitors. This project is that Mizuho makes donation to NPO Asian Green Forest Network depending on the number of stickers that visitors completing questionnaire put on to the Eco-Tree on the wall. The project obtained great support from many people, and Mizuho made donation for 1,000 tree planting.
Mizuho's Booth
Eco-Tree
Contribution presentation ceremony
Environmental Finance Symposium
In its role as secretariat for financial institutions that have adopted the Equator Principles, MHCB also participates proactively in various symposia to promote broader understanding of the principles. For example, it arranged a speech concerning issues it faced with the Equator Principles at a conference held at Stanford University Institute for Global Industry-Academia Collaboration.
On Mar 25, 2009, it participated in the Environmental Finance Symposium sponsored by the Japanese Bankers Association (JBA). The aim of this symposium was to examine the current state of environmental finance in Japan, and the role banks are expected to fulfill. Some 150 people from private financial institutions and other entities attended. Taking part in the symposium as a panelist, Osamu Odawara, head of the Sustainable Development Department, explained the bank's initiatives in the area of climate change.
On May 21, 2008, the President & CEO of MHCB at the time, Hiroshi Saito, gave a lecture on environmental problems at China's Dalian University of Technology. Mr. Saito was invited by the Dalian city government to speak about "Environmental Problems that China and Japan Should Consider Together," and the lecture was very well-attended. Amidst growing interest in environmental issues, Japanese and Chinese government officials participated as well as students, and there was a lively exchange of views.
In Feb 2008, six Mizuho companies* jointly organized the Mizuho Environmental Seminar in Nagoya. The seminar introduced cases of clients who have adopted advanced initiatives in the environmental sector, and was well-received by the many attendees.
The Mizuho Environmental Seminar venue
