East Japan Railway Company (JR East)
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2019)
Reporting Period: 2019
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Governance
- Environment
- Safety
- Social
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced noise levels to 75dB or lower in densely populated residential areas along railway lines through measures such as soundproof walls, sound-absorbent materials, rail grinding, and quieter railcars.
- Implemented noise reduction measures for conventional lines including long rails, rail grinding, and wheel truing.
Social Achievements
- Established a Compliance Hotline.
- Revised the “Compliance Action Plan Handbook” to reflect recent changes in laws and the social environment.
Governance Achievements
- Amended the “East Japan Railway Company Corporate Governance Guidelines” in November 2018 to comply with the amended corporate governance code of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
- Created the Shinkansen General Management Department to manage Shinkansen operations in an integrated and professional fashion.
- Established a personnel deliberation committee with an independent outside director as chairperson to ensure objectivity, timeliness, and transparency in director and CEO appointment/dismissal proposals.
Climate Goals & Targets
Environmental Challenges
- Noise pollution from train operations and maintenance.
- Risk of compliance violations due to prioritizing immediate profits over long-term sustainability and trust.
Mitigation Strategies
- Implemented various noise reduction measures for Shinkansen and conventional lines.
- Established a strong compliance framework including the “Policy on Legal and Regulatory Compliance and Corporate Ethics”, the “Compliance Action Plan Handbook”, and a Compliance Hotline.
- Conducting risk management initiatives to identify, avoid, and reduce individual business risks, including compliance education for all employees.