Post-Corona Challenges How to Face It? -Seeing from a Survey of 100 Companies (2) August 12, 19:24
"Decarbonization" "Semiconductor shortage" "Human rights risk"
Many issues await Japanese companies even after the corona has converged.
From the questionnaire conducted by NHK to 100 major domestic companies, we can see the companies that are starting to search for post-corona.
(Economics Department Reporter Yosuke Ikegawa)
[Questionnaire of 100 major companies]
-Implementation period July 21-August 4, 2021
-Implementation method WEB questionnaire
-Target 100 domestic companies (answers were received from all companies)
What are the efforts of decarbonized companies?
The first is "decarbonization."
The government
aims to realize
a
"decarbonized society"
that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero as a whole by 2050
.
Q Do you have specific goals and business plans for decarbonization?
80% of all companies answered that they are "developing".
As the movement of decarbonization spreads around the world, we can see the attitude of domestic companies to actively respond.
We also asked about the government's goal of reducing greenhouse gases by 46% toward 2030 compared to 2013.
As a result, 9 companies answered "achievable" and 51 companies answered "severe but can be achieved", and 60% of the respondents answered that they could achieve it.
The challenge of decarbonization is
What do you think is necessary to achieve your goals?
I asked with multiple answers.
68 companies were "procurement of renewable energy", 53 companies were "technological innovation of decarbonization", and 46 companies were "promotion of energy saving at their own facilities".
In order to achieve the goal, the government should support 74 companies for "support for technological innovation of decarbonization", 31 companies for "economic measures to encourage the purchase of environmentally friendly products and services", and 26 for "promotion of energy saving". There were 23 companies, "Promotion of carbon pricing".
There are only nine years left until 2030.
First of all, we will steadily proceed from where we can do ourselves, such as utilizing renewable energy and saving energy.
And in the medium to long term, does it mean that it is necessary to proceed with technological development for decarbonization with the support of the government?
The result of this questionnaire.
Experts familiar with the economic climate change point out:
Mr. Taue
"It is a very strict goal for each company, but it shows a strong will to achieve it. It is difficult to easily change raw materials and energy for steel and chemicals, and the transportation industry will soon switch to electric vehicles. Therefore, it is important to steadily advance technological innovation toward 2050, not limited to 2030. "
So where are the challenges of innovation?
Mr. Taue
"Technology development that uses hydrogen as energy and burying carbon dioxide in the ground is especially important, but in the United States, China, and Europe, a large amount of money was invested in decarbonization technology development and developed technology. However, in the uncertain situation in Japan, there are few companies that can settle down on the development of carbon dioxide technology. Even in Japan. I think it is necessary to develop and nurture competitive technologies. "
Changes in funding
Bonds called "green bonds" that raise funds in the environmental field such as global warming countermeasures by limiting the use of funds.
Twenty-three companies have "already issued" this bond, one has "planned to issue it in the future," and 24 have "considering issuance."
Issuance of "green bonds" is expanding in Europe, the United States and China.
It can be said that the movement to strengthen environmental efforts is spreading in Japan as well.
Global semiconductor shortage Impact ...
Next is "semiconductor shortage".
Semiconductors used in a wide range of products such as smartphones, automobiles, and home appliances, and are also called "industrial rice."
Demand for telework PCs and game consoles, which spread due to the corona disaster, and automobiles, whose sales have recovered rapidly in the United States and other countries, is increasing, and the global supply cannot keep up with the demand.
Q Is there any impact on the business due to the global shortage of semiconductors?
20 companies were "affected" and 37 companies were "slightly affected", and more than half of the companies answered that their business was affected.
We asked the companies that answered "affected" or "somewhat affected" about the specific impact.
“Difficulty in procuring parts using semiconductors” was 45.6%, “Increase in semiconductor procurement price” was 26.3%, and “Reduction in production” was 22.8%.
Spreads influence over a wide range of industries
Due to the shortage of semiconductors, the automobile industry could not procure enough parts, and manufacturers such as Toyota Motor, Nissan Motor, and Honda were in a situation where production was reduced and factory operations were suspended one after another.
The impact has spread to familiar home appliances, and some home appliance mass retailers are running out of products such as washing machines and telephones.
In addition, in information and communications, Rakuten Mobile has revealed that the expansion of the communication area will lag behind the initial target due to the lack of semiconductors used for base stations in the communication area with a communication standard of 4G. ..
The impact is on a wider range of industries.
"Transport volume has decreased due to reduced automobile production" (Transportation)
"Procurement of products using semiconductors has become difficult" (Information and communications, finance, manufacturers)
There seems to be widespread concern among companies that the global semiconductor shortage will be prolonged.
Affects national policy
How long will this semiconductor shortage continue?
Akira Minamikawa, senior director of British research firm OMDIA, who is familiar with semiconductor trends, said:
Mr. Minamikawa
"Semiconductor manufacturers are now making huge capital investments, so it is expected that the shortage of semiconductors for automobiles will gradually improve. However, carbon-neutral carbon-neutral emissions that reduce carbon dioxide emissions to virtually zero The policy is about to be invested around the world, and wind power, solar power, and carbon dioxide in cars will create more semiconductor demand than we can imagine, and the shortage may continue into the second half of next year. That could affect the progress of national policies such as carbon neutrality and the spread of 5G. "
Human rights issues “at risk” more than half
The last is "risk of human rights issues".
Regarding human rights issues in the supply chain, the U.S. government has banned imports of a wide range of products such as solar panel materials and cotton products suspected of being made by forced labor in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. The impact is starting to appear.
Q Are there any risks of human rights issues in developing your business?
Of the 58 companies that answered “risk”, more than half of the total, and it was found that many companies consider human rights issues as a management issue.
This is the voice of a company that answered that there is a risk.
"There is a risk of human rights infringement problems at business partners whose information management is difficult, such as indirect business partners in the supply chain." (Manufacturer)
"Products using raw materials manufactured by forced labor are lined up in stores." (retail)
Some have pointed out human rights risks not only in overseas but also in domestic business.
"There are concerns about human rights risks to foreign workers such as foreign trainees" (Infrastructure / Construction)
New challenges lurking in the supply chain.
In the questionnaire, we asked about the company's research system, including secondary and tertiary indirect business partners.
34 companies were "maintained", 24 companies were "maintained and further strengthened", and 20 companies were "not maintained but planning to maintain", and nearly 80% of them are in-house regarding human rights issues. I knew there was a need to investigate.
A company looking for a post-corona
Rapidly declining birthrate and aging population, declining population, and labor shortage.
From before Corona, "homework" was piled up in front of Japanese companies.
The corona wreck that suddenly fell there.
We are also facing global challenges such as decarbonization, semiconductor shortages, and human rights risks.
But I can't stop.
In the post-corona era that will come someday, can Japanese companies show their presence as the world economy recovers?
The groping continues.
Reporter of the Ministry of Economic Affairs
Yosuke Ikekawa
Joined in 2002
After working at the
Sendai station and Yamagata station
, he is
currently affiliated.