MIZUHO Financial Group will begin offering real estate loans which incentivise property owners to cut greenhouse gas emissions by lowering interest rates if they do so.

The company will begin offering the loans in April, according to internal documents obtained by Bloomberg. Naohiro Takahashi, a spokesperson for the company, confirmed the information.

Sustainability-linked loans, which offer preferential interest rates for companies that achieve certain environmental and social goals, are expanding in Japan. Last year, 665 of such loans worth 711 billion yen (S$6.3 billion) were made, according to government data.

Decarbonisation of newly built real estate is progressing in office buildings, residences, and logistics facilities in Japan, but the process for older properties has been relatively slow. In particular, the purchase and management of existing properties by private funds has been a challenge, as they have been reluctant to invest money in decarbonisation amid concerns about yields.

The loans will be handled by Mizuho Bank and Mizuho Trust & Banking, Mizuho’s internal documents showed. Non-recourse sustainability-linked loans for private funds will be targeted. Goals are set at the time of property acquisition, and the interest rate is reduced based on certain metrics.

Borrowers are required to provide the bank with information on the status of target achievement at least once a year. The bank will also use a third-party evaluation agency to ensure objectivity. BLOOMBERG

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