Nomura Securities, the investment arm of Japan’s financial services giant Nomura Group, has unveiled a new initiative aimed at supporting early-stage climate technology ventures. The scheme, named the ‘Sustainable Innovation Investment Scheme,’ is designed to help scale businesses that leverage advanced technologies to address environmental and social challenges.
As one of Japan’s largest financial institutions, Nomura has committed to a net zero target across its investment and loan portfolio by 2050. A key element of this ambition is the deployment of $125 billion in sustainable finance by March 2026.
The scheme will primarily target start-ups working in the fields of environment, energy, decarbonisation, health, and education. A company spokesperson told Net Zero Investor that the focus will be on firms at the early stages of development, with an emphasis on scaling commercially viable technologies.
Significantly, Nomura will fund the scheme using its own capital. “This is Nomura’s own and principal investment scheme – we are not seeking investment from institutional investors,” the spokesperson confirmed.
While the exact scale and structure of the investment remain under wraps, Nomura’s asset management division – Japan’s largest with $584 billion in assets under management – adds weight to the group’s ability to support ambitious climate ventures.
The announcement comes in the wake of the Japanese government’s latest climate reforms, including the 7th Strategic Energy Plan and the GX 2040 vision, endorsed by Prime Minister Ishiba’s administration in February 2025. However, critics argue the reforms fall short, particularly in addressing Japan’s reliance on coal.
Nomura’s investment strategy appears to operate independently of policy momentum. “These initiatives often take time to commercialise and require the establishment of new markets and transformations across supply chains,” the group noted. “This high level of uncertainty is a source of concern for many entrepreneurs and investors.”
Despite these uncertainties, Nomura’s latest initiative signals a clear confidence in the potential of Japan’s climate-tech sector. The firm’s decision to commit its own funds reflects both belief in the innovation ecosystem and its appetite for long-term impact and returns.
