Climate Change

Adaptation to climate change

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

A range of energy saving measures such as controlled lighting levels and optimized air conditioning timing in accordance with the Act on the Rational Use of Energy (Energy Saving Act) and the Tokyo Metropolitan Environmental Preservation Ordinance are being implemented at the building where SoftBank Corp. headquarters are located.

In addition, at its headquarters and network and data centers, SoftBank has received ISO14001, an international certification for environmental management systems, and is actively working to reduce its electricity consumption. We optimize temperature settings of air conditioners at base stations and network centers to enable normal operation of equipment, proactively use equipment that is best-in-class for energy conservation, and promote optimal energy use through the periodic replacement of old or outdated equipment. At data centers in particular, a reduction in energy consumption is being seen through the implementation of heat analysis visualization and localized air conditioning, among other efforts.

Reduction of CO₂ emissions

SoftBank obtains Eco ICT mark

SoftBank supports the aims of the ICT Ecology Guideline Council and have acquired the ICT echo mark, which is awarded to corporations that meet certain criteria set by the ICT Ecology Guideline Council. The mark was acquired following a self-assessment by the companies of initiatives to reduce CO₂ emissions at their businesses, such as the formulation of procurement criteria for equipment and services that focus on reducing CO₂ emissions.

Self evaluation checklist for initiatives by telecommunications carriers to reduce CO₂ emissions

Required item

Creation of a voluntary environmental action plan, etc.
Evaluation item	Implementation status and initiative details
Have you formulated and put into operation a voluntary environmental action plan which describes various initiatives for the purpose of reducing CO2 emissions through energy conservation?	In addition to enacting environmental action guidelines to engage in the maintenance and preservation of the environment, we have established environmental targets for the entire company which include the reduction of the amount of energy usage, the promotion of the use of recycled paper, the proper disposal of industrial waste, and the implementation of green procurement and environmental education programs.
Does the voluntary environmental action plan incorporate specific initiatives which describe various numerical targets for the purpose of reducing CO2 emissions through energy conservation?	As an environmental target, we have established a numerical target for the reduction of power consumption which is being undertaken by the entire company.
In addition to internally and externally publicizing the voluntary environmental action plan, are you engaging in activities to educate and communicate with employees to strive to improve their environmental awareness?	We have published the environmental action guidelines and environmental targets on this web site. Moreover, we have posted this information on the CSR page of the company intranet for the employees while also striving to improve the awareness of each individual employee by providing regular e-learning and the dissemination of educational information about environmental awareness.
Are you releasing information about the status of implementation and achievement of various initiatives described in the voluntary environmental action plan?	We have published such information about our environmental initiatives under the “Environment” section of this web site.
Procurement-related initiatives
Evaluation item	Implementation status and initiative details
Have you created any procurement standards for ICT equipment and data centers based on the evaluation criteria stipulated in these guidelines, and are you conducting procurement in accordance with those standards?	In order to promote the introduction of products which help encourage a reduction in CO2 emissions, we enacted a set of “Green Procurement Guidelines” for all of our business partners which describe our basic approach to green procurement, and we are carrying out procurement activities in accordance with these guidelines.
Are you conducting green procurement and other forms of procurement which consider energy conservation for business machines used in the office, goods, and distribution?	We have adopted recycled paper products which conform with the Eco Mark standard for our copier paper. Moreover, we are promoting the purchasing of low environmental load products for our stationery supplies such as Eco Mark products and products which conform wiGreen Purchasing Act.
Promotion system
Evaluation item	Implementation status and initiative details
Have you established a department or person in charge of initiatives to reduce CO2 emissions through energy conservation?	We are reducing greenhouse effect gases across the entire company through an secretariat run by the CSR Division.
Are you appropriately assessing the status of implementation and achievement of targets, etc. listed in the voluntary environmental action plan while also maintaining a system to perform internal audits?	After receiving ISO14001 certification, we are creating and appropriately reviewing environmental targets, checking the status of implementation and achievement of those targets, and conducting internal audits. We are maintaining a system to ensure that this type of environmental management system PDCA cycle is executed in the appropriate manner.

Optional item

Initiatives for other environmental measures
Evaluation item	Implementation status and initiative details
Have you established a department or person in charge of initiatives to reduce CO2 emissions through energy conservation?	We are reducing greenhouse effect gases across the entire company through an secretariat run by the CSR Division.
Are you appropriately assessing the status of implementation and achievement of targets, etc. listed in the voluntary environmental action plan while also maintaining a system to perform internal audits?	After receiving ISO14001 certification, we are creating and appropriately reviewing environmental targets, checking the status of implementation and achievement of those targets, and conducting internal audits. We are maintaining a system to ensure that this type of environmental management system PDCA cycle is executed in the appropriate manner.

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Improving energy efficiency at data centers

IDC Frontier Inc. works to raise energy efficiency at data centers. Its Kitakyushu Data Center (Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka) is the first large commercial data center in Japan to adopt air conditioning using outside air. The data center has realized energy conservation through the optimization of high-density server operations and air conditioning efficiency, and as a result, has won a number of awards.

In addition, at the Shirakawa Data Center in Shirakawa City, Fukushima Prefecture, IDC Frontier – using the area’s cooler climate and the high-level expertise acquired from its experience in operating the Kitakyushu Data Center – has developed an in-building external air conditioner system that combines architecture capable of drawing external air directly into the building with air conditioner functions in order to process exhaust heat from servers. This system enables the data center to use cool external air for over 90% of its air conditioning needs.

Completed in 2018, Shirakawa Data Center’s building no. 5 employs a hybrid air conditioning system that combines external air and water cooling with air cooling functions. It is expected to achieve a high cooling efficiency of approximately PUE*1 of 1.2.

In addition, the data center analyzes and verifies energy conservation effects to continuously promote further energy conservation.

[Note]

• *
  Power Usage Effectiveness
  An indicator of data center energy efficiency, the PUE is calculated by dividing the overall power consumption of the data center by the power consumption of its IT equipment. In general, data centers in Japan commonly have a PUE value of 2.0 or less.

Aiming to promote renewable energy

The devastation caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake and the incident at Tokyo Electric Power's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant has stimulated interest in energy demand and power-saving programs in Japan and has had a profound effect on the lives of people, not only in East Japan, but throughout the entire country. The SoftBank Group recognizes the energy issue as a challenge that concerns the whole of Japan and believes that the promotion and expansion of safe and renewable energy is one of the solutions.

We established the Renewable Energy Governors' Alliance at the prefecture level and the Renewable Energy Governors' Alliance for Designated Cities at the urban level and began serving as secretariat for these two alliances, with the chairman of the board and also the chairman and president of the parent company, SoftBank group Corp., as the secretary general. Through the alliances, together with 34 prefectures throughout Japan and the local governments of 19 cities, the SoftBank shares policy recommendations and information as an associate member, to promote the spread of renewable energy.

We support public policies related to climate change mitigation and promotion of renewable energy as disaster prevention. In 2019, we made four policy proposals: to the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) : “Balancing economic growth and social decarbonization,” “Regional revitalization through coexistence with local communities and promotion of renewable energy,” “Toward mass introduction of renewable energy as a main power source,” and “Deregulation and various issues.”

Providing environmentally friendly electricity services

SoftBank and SB Power Co., Ltd. are offering “Shizen Denki,” a rate menu for households with a virtually 100% renewable energy ratio and zero CO₂ emissions^*1, in the Hokkaido, Tohoku, Tokyo, Chubu, Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu power areas by using non-fossil certificates^*2 designated for renewable energy. In addition, SB Power contributes 50 yen per month per “Shizen Denki” contract to support activities for forest conservation organizations^*3, and expects to reduce annual CO₂ emissions by approximately 16,000 tons^*4 through the provision of “Shizen Denki” in fiscal 2021.
In addition, in order to respond to the accelerating trend toward decarbonization among companies and local governments, SoftBank Denki for Biz High Voltage, an electricity service for corporate customers, began offering a menu of options with low environmental impact in February 2021. In 2021 May, we began offering an RE100-compliant menu to Yahoo Japan's Shirakawa Data Center, supporting the group company's efforts to decarbonize.

SoftBank and SB Power will continue to contribute to the realization of an environmentally-friendly society by providing power services that make practical use of renewable energy.

[Notes]

1. *1
   By combining the electricity supplied to customers with a non-fossil certificate designated as a renewable energy, it is possible to essentially realize the supply of electricity with a renewable energy ratio of 100% and zero CO₂ emissions.
2. *2
   Calculated by extracting the environmental value of solar power generation and wind power generation, which does not emit CO₂ that causes global warming, from electricity.
3. *3
   Donations to organizations that execute projects certified under the J-Credit Scheme operated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of the Environment, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
4. *4
   The CO₂ reduction effect is calculated by multiplying the amount of power used by Shizen Denki enrollees by the national average CO₂ emission factor, and then adding the J-Credit depreciation received from supporting activities of forest conservation groups.