On July 10th, A4S (Accounting for Sustainability)* organized a CFO and Investor Roundtable at the Ritz-Carlton Tokyo, which CAJ supported as a local partner. The Roundtable was hosted in Japan for the first time, and nearly 50 participants attended, including CFOs from companies, investment managers, and sustainability promotion officials from investment management firms.

Jessica Fries, Executive Chair of A4S moderated the first session, during which panelists Hiromichi Mizuno (former GPIF Executive Managing Director and CIO, Good Steward Partners LLC/Founder & CEO), Keiko Tashiro (Vice President of Daiwa Securities Group Inc., IFRS Trustee), and Satoshi Ikeda (Chief Sustainable Finance Officer and Deputy Commissioner for International Affairs, Financial Services Agency) discussed the sustainability progress and challenges in the Japanese financial sector.

In the second session, attendees were divided into four tables. Each table engaged in a lively discussion on the challenges that investors and companies face when investing in accordance with the transition to net zero. The discussion also focused on the steps businesses may take to overcome these challenges, as well as the roles of investors and CFOs in achieving net zero.

The social gathering following the sessions also provided a valuable opportunity for participants to network with peers.

CAJ will continue to support A4S to provide an enabling and confidential environment for participants to share insights and practical actions to aligning with the transition to net zero.

* A4S is a non-profit organization that was established by HM King Charles III in 2004 “to help ensure that we are not battling to meet 21st century challenges with, at best, 20th century decision making and reporting systems.”  A4S aims to inspire action by finance leaders to drive a fundamental shift towards resilient business models and a sustainable economy.