impactlake™ defines approximately 30 impacts associated with the themes of ‘society,’ ‘environment,’ and ‘economy’ for your utilization in impact management. These impacts are further categorized by target countries or regions (domestic, global, etc.) and intentions (added value, foundational value, economic rationality, social rationality, etc.). We continuously update and provide individual impact models for these categories.
Society
In recent times, there has been a growing spotlight on environmental themes such as decarbonization and climate change. However, themes related to society are believed to be increasingly important from both the perspective of impact creation and impact management. This is due to the complex nature of societal issues, which can be more challenging to quantify compared to environmental themes. In this domain, you’ll find issues related to the foundation of human cultural life, such as healthcare, food, and agriculture. Additionally, it encompasses issues vital to social life, including education, household and childcare. Furthermore, it includes themes related to individual dignity and self-realization, such as diversity and inclusion.
Medical
This category encompasses themes related to global public health, infectious disease issues, challenges with medical public expenditures in advanced countries, and other topics related to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and improvement of specific diseases such as lifestyle-related diseases and dementia.
Healthcare
This category includes diverse themes related to both physical and psychological health, extending beyond the mere prevention and treatment of diseases. It covers topics concerning the maintenance of individual physical and psychological health, as well as the enhancement of self-realization and quality of life (QOL) through maximizing one’s capabilities.
Caregiving
This category focuses on issues related to the caregiving field and caregivers, especially in advanced countries where aging populations are prevalent. It also addresses challenges related to social security expenses associated with caregiving. Additionally, themes related to caregiving reserves, preventive caregiving, medical collaboration, and issues like frailty are included.
Inclusion
This category encompasses various issues and themes aimed at achieving a world where equal opportunities for social participation in labor, education, information acquisition, and communication are provided to so-called socially vulnerable individuals, irrespective of disabilities or backgrounds.
Diversity
This category includes various issues and themes focused on promoting coexistence and mutual prosperity among individuals with diverse backgrounds, such as nationality, race, gender, culture, and preferences, allowing them to acknowledge and respect each other, including aspects like women’s social participation.
Empowerment
This category focuses on themes aimed at maximizing opportunities for individuals to express their thoughts, experiences, and abilities, enabling self-realization within the cultural and societal contexts. It includes topics like career aptitude development and promoting side jobs.
Food and Agriculture
This category includes themes related to high-productivity agriculture, a secure and safe food chain, and, particularly in the domestic context, topics such as increasing food self-sufficiency rates, improving the profitability of farmers, and the next generation of agricultural workforce.
Education
Globally, this category covers themes related to ensuring basic educational opportunities. In the domestic context, it includes maintaining public education amidst declining birthrates, reducing the burden on educators, and providing diverse educational opportunities.
Childcare
This category includes efforts to ensure basic childcare standards, reduce the burden of childcare, and themes that recognize the value of childcare, which is inherently ‘Unpaid Work’ (work performed within the household without generating income).
Household Chores
This category encompasses efforts to achieve a reduction in basic household chore burdens and themes that recognize the value of household chores, which are inherently ‘Unpaid Work’ (work performed within the household without generating income).
Environment
Environmental themes are currently of the highest interest to companies and investors, with rapidly expanding efforts at both national and corporate levels globally. This category includes topics related to climate change, as well as issues such as air, soil, and waste, and their connection to biodiversity and natural resources like water. It also encompasses themes related to urban functions like energy, infrastructure, and lifelines.
Energy
Energy has historically been one of the most critical policy themes, and it is now the most important theme in addressing climate change. This category includes topics related to renewable energy and themes concerning energy utilization methods.。
Next-Generation Cities
In particular, domestic issues include regional disparities and depopulation in rural areas, which have become apparent and serve as the root causes of various challenges. This category includes various themes aimed at maximizing the functions and appeal of cities and addressing fundamental issues.
Infrastructure
In advanced countries, especially domestically, the aging of major infrastructure such as bridges and tunnels built during the high-growth period is significant. Maintaining and safely renewing these infrastructures is a major theme.
Lifelines
Globally, ensuring the availability of major lifelines remains a challenge in some regions. Domestically, just like infrastructure, the theme revolves around how to adapt to aging infrastructure and how to maintain them, especially in depopulated areas.
Atmosphere & Air
One of the major causes of climate change is undoubtedly the emission of greenhouse gases, making mitigation and resolution urgent. This category also includes themes related to air pollution and its impact on human health.
Waste
Waste is a significant challenge, particularly in emerging countries. Even in advanced nations, issues surrounding disposal costs, environmental impact, and concerns related to excessive consumption, including food waste, are featured in this category.。
Resilience
The importance of building various infrastructures and systems that can withstand worsening climate-related disasters and unforeseen incidents, such as wars, is increasing globally. This category includes themes related to these efforts.
Public Safety
Maintaining public safety, especially in emerging countries, remains a significant challenge. Additionally, with the increasing prevalence of borderless cybercrimes and related issues, themes related to information security are included in this category.
Water Resources
This category covers water resources from the perspectives of flood control and water usage. Globally, securing safe drinking water is a key issue. In the domestic context, themes related to flood control as well as lifelines like water supply and sewage are included.
Marine
The marine environment, covering 70% of the Earth, is constantly affected by factors such as climate change and waste. Themes related to issues like marine biodiversity, environmental changes such as rising sea levels, and problems like microplastics in the oceans are included.
Soil
Similar to the marine environment, global issues are arising due to factors like climate change, waste, and excessive land use and development. Themes related to problems like desertification and soil contamination are included.
Biodiversity
The challenges and importance of protecting biodiversity from climate change, environmental changes, harmful substance emissions, overfishing, and more have increased. Local and global themes related to addressing these issues are included.
Economy
The economy is one of the most important themes, alongside ‘Society’ and ‘Environment.’ While it is sometimes encompassed within the ‘Social’ context in ESG frameworks, this area includes themes related to the sustainability of small and medium-sized enterprises, regional economies, and globally significant topics like financial inclusion, employment, and labor.
Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
Especially in the domestic context, small and medium-sized enterprises play a crucial role in supporting employment and the economy. Themes in this area include addressing the aging of business owners, business succession, and promoting startups as a means of rejuvenation.
Regional Economy
Especially within Japan, issues like urban centralization, depopulation in rural areas, and the challenges they pose to maintaining various urban functions have led to themes related to the sustainability of regional economies. These include concepts like ‘buy local’ and fostering local economies.
Employment and Labor
Maintaining people’s employment and improving labor conditions are always crucial as the foundation of livelihoods and economies. In recent times, there has been an increasing emphasis on the importance of human capital in intangible assets, which has led to a demand for qualitative and quantitative improvements in this theme.
Financial Inclusion
Financial accessibility remains limited in many countries and regions, particularly in emerging economies. However, recent advancements in digital technologies and various initiatives aim to address these issues, making them central themes.