In March 2026, IGES, in collaboration with SOMPO Holdings, published the Japanese translations of two key reports released by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in September 2025: "Getting Ahead of Physical Risk" and "Physical Risk and Resilience in Value Chains."
In recent years, natural disasters have grown in frequency and severity. They now pose an ongoing crisis that disrupts economic activities and social infrastructure. Damages occurring at various critical nodes across global value chains accumulate and transform into severe financial risks. Responding to physical risks is no longer a future task, but an urgent management agenda directly linked to corporate value itself.
While Japanese companies show significant interest in supply chain disruptions, there remains substantial room for improvement in translating physical risk assessments into financial strategy and medium- to long-term executive decision-making. The two translated reports provide concrete guidance on how C-suite executives should demonstrate leadership and facilitate cross-functional dialogue.
Therefore, this session aims to bring together key stakeholders involved in the translation process to share the main takeaways of the two reports as well as corporate case studies. By engaging a wide range of practitioners involved in value chain operations, the session seeks to foster multi-faceted discussions on concrete actions Japanese value chain leaders should take.
* The translation process received extensive support from the WBCSD Task Force in Japan. Additionally, two members of the Value Chain Management (VCM) Working Group at Global Compact Network Japan (GCNJ) served as reviewers, and the VCM Working Group has been holding a series of study sessions on these reports.
Opening Remarks
Video Message
Fiona Watson
Vice President of Corporate Performance & Accountability at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, WBCSD
Report Overview
ONODA Shinji
Deputy Director of Integrated Sustainability Centre / Senior Research Manager
Panel Discussion
Facilitator
KANEDA Koichi
Senior Specialist, Sustainability Innovation Headquarters, NTT DATA Group Corporation
Panelist
KATO Taku
Leader of Sustainability Promotion, Culture Transformation Department, Sompo Japan Insurance Inc.
Panelist
KUSAKABE Nana
Director, Sustainability Planning Department, SoftBank Corp.
Panelist
KUSAJIMA Takayuki
Project General Manager, Sustainability Management Div., Toyota Motor Corporation
Born in 1968, graduated University of Tokyo, Bachelor of Economics, and joined Toyota Motor Co. in 1991.
Since 1991, engaged in export marketing, economics and energy research, and external affairs.
Since 2016, started support work for Chairman's activity in WBCSD, and became a leader of WBCSD-Keidanren TF in 2021, and Senior Advisor of WBCSD in 2023.
Panelist
SASAKI Mutsumi
PROCUREMENT PLANNING DEPARTMENT, Nabtesco Corporation
Closing Remarks
GOTO Toshihiko
Executive Director, UN Global Compact Network Japan
Supported by: World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)