Insurance Company's Forest Protection Initiative Wins Environment Minister's Awards for Supporting Disaster Affected Areas

Copyright Nipponkoa Insurance Co.

Nipponkoa Insurance Co. won the Environment Minister's Awards in practical activities' category of the 2012 Activities to Fight Global Warming, on December 12, 2012, for its efforts to improve forestry in areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. The company was presented with this prize for the second consecutive year.

In order to contribute to an early recovery and regional revitalization in the affected areas, the company had selected eight projects from the standpoints of "revitalization of local economies," "carbon dioxide reduction," etc, and purchased carbon offset credits (J-VER) from the disaster affected areas. Seven of the projects are to increase carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption through the improvement of forestry in the affected areas. The other project aims to sort earthquake rubble and utilize woody biomass as fuel.

These projects are estimated to offset about 5,000 tons of CO2 through absorption and reductions, which represents one of the largest amounts in Japan at present. The company is also engaged in the programs "Nipponkoa's forest" to develop human resources to value nature.

Related JFS article:
Japanese Insurance Company Raises Funds for Disaster Areas, Reduces CO2 Emissions through Online Transactions
Bridgestone's AeroBee Wins Environment Minister's Award
JFS Wins Environment Ministry's Award