Environmental issues, and in particular the question of how to prevent global warming, are issues that need to be debated on a global level and with the utmost urgency. I believe that the prevention of global warming is something that must be tackled by people working together all over the world and not just within the confines of their own respective countries.

With the aim of realizing the targets for reduction set out in the Kyoto protocol, in November 2007 the Aisin Group added new targets for cutting down on emissions of greenhouse effect gas (GHG) by the Group as a whole that involved moving from standards based on total emission quantities rather than basic units in line with sales figures as had been used previously. We set a target for reduction by 7% in comparison with the figure for fiscal 1991 as the five-year average for the period between 2008 and 2012. There are many difficulties that we have to overcome in order to achieve this target, but the Group intends to tackle these activities in a concerted manner in the realization that these targets must absolutely be achieved, since delay in implementing environmental measures will render corporate growth impossible.

In production, we are striving to cut back on CO₂ emissions through the introduction of simple, slim-line energy-reducing facilities, to reduce the substance of environmental concern, and to lower the quantity of emissions. So that the employees who are responsible for implementing these measures are able to tackle their duties with a strong awareness of their importance, we are encouraging their active participation by creating as many opportunities as possible for them to take part in activities aimed at protecting nature and the environment on a volunteer basis.

At the development stage, with the aim of contributing to conservation of the global environment through our products, we are tackling the development of technology aimed at improving the fuel efficiency of automobiles, reducing their weight and lessening the quantity of substances included in products that have an adverse effect on the environment.

In recent years we have been placing particular importance on activities that will contribute to improving the global environment in the future rather than just attempting to reduce the burden placed on the environment by the development and manufacture of products. In fiscal 2008 we opened a comprehensive environmental study facility by the name of “Aisin Ecotopia”, consisting of an Eco center, an Ecotope and a civic garden. We hope that this facility will contribute to the creation of a bright future for the global environment as a venue where children, in whose hands the future lies, are able to learn about the environment and which can be used as a testing facility for environmental technologies related to recycling, solar batteries and rooftop greening.

We hope that these activities will enhance the awareness of the environment possessed by all employees of the Aisin Group, and we intend to push forward with activities aimed at protecting the environment under the slogan of ‘AISIN helps to save the world.’