Ms. Yumeko Manabe, the Director of the Hokkaido Sales Office in the Domestic Business Unit, shared her experiences in this interview.
Based in Hokkaido, she plays a key role in addressing climate change as part of GreenCarbon. With her international education and experience across various industries, she is committed to advancing the carbon credit business to protect both local communities and the global environment. Please read on to discover her insights and dedication making a meaningful impact!
Q. Could you please provide a brief self-introduction, including your career so far?
I graduated from a graduate school overseas and worked at a television station for one year. After that, I explored ways to contribute directly to addressing climate change issues and transitioned to the carbon credit industry. I then took a break to undergo six months of training at a farm in France. After returning to Japan, I joined Green Carbon. Currently, I am balancing my work while preparing to start farming in Hokkaido.
Q. What kind of work are you involved in? Could you tell me about your responsibilities?
I am in charge of the Hokkaido branch office and primarily work on expanding the carbon credit business related to intermittent draining of rice paddies. Specifically, I collaborate with agents such as agricultural cooperatives (JA), who coordinate with farmers, to encourage more farmers to participate in the project. I plan and manage online events and workshops to promote this initiative. Additionally, leveraging the advantage of being stationed in Hokkaido, I strive to foster understanding of carbon credits by building trust with farmers through on-site dialogues.
In the future, I plan to actively engage in the dairy sector. With my father being a hoof trimmer for cattle, I accompany him to farms, directly listening to farmers’ perspectives. This has allowed me to deepen my knowledge of dairy farming and approach my work with a more practical perspective.
Q. What inspired you to work at GreenCarbon?
I was looking for a job that would allow me to contribute to climate change mitigation while being rooted in my hometown of Hokkaido. Around that time, I learned about the establishment of the Hokkaido branch office and felt that I could leverage the experience I gained in my previous job, which led me to decide to join the company.
Hokkaido holds immense potential for creating carbon credits from natural sources, and during my interview, I was deeply inspired by my current supervisor’s passion for realizing Japan’s first carbon-neutral region by utilizing this potential. I strongly resonated with that vision and wanted to be part of making it a reality.
Q. What makes your work fulfilling?
I find fulfillment in moments when I encounter truly admirable people through this job. For instance, people who genuinely care about the well-being of farmers, those who strive to protect vulnerable producers, or individuals who work hard to create successful businesses to revitalize their local communities.
Meeting such dedicated individuals deeply inspires me and motivates me to work even harder. These encounters reinforce my desire to support these amazing people through the carbon credit business, further strengthening my commitment to the work.
Q. What challenges have you faced so far?
Expanding understanding of carbon credits is still far from easy. I have encountered individuals who are skeptical, viewing it as potential greenwashing or something “suspicious and intangible.”
However, I see carbon credits as a critical mechanism to assign value to natural capital, which has long been exploited without compensation, and to protect nature and primary industry producers. While the concept may be hard to grasp at first due to its intangible nature, I firmly believe that when used correctly, it can significantly contribute to improving the global environment. Moving forward, I will continue to focus on providing thorough explanations and concrete examples to help more people understand its importance.
Q. Lastly, do you have a message for those considering a career at GreenCarbon?
Green Carbon is a workplace full of passion and a sense of urgency. Each employee carries a strong determination to genuinely change the world, creating an environment where you can experience immense fulfillment and personal growth. It’s an ideal place for those who are driven, unafraid of change, and eager to create new value. Let’s build the future together at Green Carbon!