Hankyu Hanshin REIT, Inc.

TSE Code:8977

Sustainability

Climate Change Initiatives

Recognition of Climate Change (Background)

We understand that climate change issues as stated in the Paris Agreement (2015) and IPCC Special Report (2018) are anticipated to bring drastic changes to the natural environment and social structures, which represents one of the challenges that gives impact on the asset management of HHR. Therefore, we recognize that our earnest efforts to address these issues will contribute to securing our sustainable profitability on a medium-to-long-term basis, and maximizing unitholder value.

Support for the TCFD Recommendations

In December 2022, HHRAM announced its support for the TCFD (Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures*) recommendations and joined the TCFD Consortium, an organization consisting of Japanese supporting companies, thereby further promoting the initiatives concerning climate change and improving information disclosure based on the TCFD recommendations.

*TCFD was established by the Financial Stability Board (FSB) upon request of G20 with the aim of considering climate-related information disclosures and actions to be taken by financial institutions, and has announced its recommendations for understanding and disclosing “Governance,” “Strategy,” “Risk Management” and “Metrics and Targets” concerning climate change-related risks and opportunities.

Governance

For  the sustainability promotion system (including measures against climate change) of HHRAM, please refer to  Sustainability Promotion System.

Strategy

* This table can be scrolled horizontally.

Item     Risk Opportunity Time frame
Transition
risk		 Policy and legal regulations Carbon tax and carbon pricing
  • Cost of facility operations will increase due to a rise in electricity and fuel costs and others.
  • Renovation and repair costs will increase due to a rise in construction materials prices and tighter regulations on buildings such as ZEB and ZEH (*1).
  • The introduction of renewable energy to avoid the impact of carbon tax, etc. will be accelerated, which will contribute to a rise in evaluation by tenants.
 Short to long term
Carbon emission trading
  • Properties which can hardly take energy-saving measures will have to bear the cost of purchasing carbon emission allowances.
 - Medium term
Response to GHG (*2) emission regulations by ZEB and ZEH(*1).
  • Renovation costs will increase for renewal work due to the necessity of introducing devices and equipment with higher environmental performance.
  • Conversion of buildings into ZEB will contribute to a reduction of operation costs and enhancement of competitive edge by differentiation.

(*1) ZEB: Zero Energy Building, ZEH: Zero Energy House
(*2) GHG: Greenhouse Gas

 Medium term

Technology

 Dissemination of new technology
  • Renovation costs will increase due to the introduction of new technologies for energy saving and renewable energy.
  • Renovation costs will be reduced when new technologies will be disseminated and the prices of energy-saving facilities and renewable energy materials will decline.
  • By introducing new technologies, it is expected that the costs of facility operation including electricity and fuel costs will be reduced to a certain degree.
 Medium term

Market

 Changes in energy mix, etc.
  • With the social requirement for raising the renewal energy ratio growing, the construction cost to be borne at the introduction stage will squeeze profits.
 - Medium to long term

Reputation

 Change in tenants’ tastes
  • Deterioration of asset value and brand value (declines in rent or occupancy rate) is possible if we cannot meet the needs of tenants for buildings or retail facilities with environmental performance.
  • Our competitive edge will be maintained and strengthened if we can meet the needs of tenants for buildings, houses and retail facilities with high environmental performance.
 Medium to long term
Investors’ key evaluation points
  • A delay in ESG measures and disclosure will cause a deterioration of evaluation by investors, leading to an increase in fund procurement costs.
  • A transition to low-carbon and environment-friendly properties will enable us to secure new highly ESG-conscious investors and a reduction in fund procurement costs.
 Short to long term
Physical risk Acute Extreme weather (Intensified damage from natural disasters)
  • Due to typhoons becoming larger and more intense, retail facilities tend to temporarily suspend operation, resulting in decreases in visitors and sales.
  • Inundation inside a levee, etc. may increase the possibility of damage to our properties.
  • Since demand for disaster-resistant buildings, etc. with measures for BCP and people who are unable to return home after disasters is increasing, we will be able to strengthen our competitive edge and increase sales if we can provide facilities that can meet those needs.
 Short to long term
Chronic Rise in average temperature
  • Costs for enhancing air-conditioning capability will increase in order to respond to the rise in average temperature.
  • Costs of renovation will increase due to degradation of work efficiency in the extremely hot weather in summer.
 - Medium to long term
Rise in sea level
  • The possibility of occurrence of damage is expected to increase due to inundation of our properties from tidal waves, etc.
 - Long term

Risk Management

  • HHRAM has established a department responsible for risk management in normal times which conducts annual risk assessments. The investigation covers a wide range of risks related to climate change (natural disasters, etc.), accidents, information management, legal compliance and other organizational operations, etc. As to risks peculiar to each business, the relevant responsible department establishes appropriate countermeasures by identifying and analyzing them.
  • With respect to climate change-related risks, we also conduct risk assessment from the viewpoints of possibility of occurrence and the degree of impact. Furthermore, we monitor the status of countermeasures once a year.
  • The Sustainability Promotion Committee also deliberates (once in three months) on climate change-related risks and their impact on business, etc. as necessary, and if changes are needed from the current content, such changes are reflected in the company-wide risk management by including them in a risk survey form which is used in the risk assessment.

Metrics and Targets

As for Metrics and Targets, please refer to Environmental Targets.