WWF recognizes insurer for conservation efforts

Company’s work towards curbing the effects of climate change in the spotlight

WWF recognizes insurer for conservation efforts

Insurance News

By Lyle Adriano

Non-profit World Wildlife Fund (WWF) recently put a spotlight on the conservation efforts of RSA Canada in a blog report, highlighting how the company has very good reasons why it wants to help save the environment.

“Climate change is probably one of the biggest risks our business faces,” RSA Canada president and CEO Martin Thompson told the WWF in the feature.

Martin explained that the burning of fossil fuels not only heats up the planet, but creates more extreme weather events, which drive up claims and premiums across the world.

The report mentioned how Canada’s weather-related insurance claims reached a record-breaking $4.9 billion last year, thanks to wildfires in Fort McMurray, ice storms in southern Ontario, floods in Atlantic Canada, and other climate-related disasters.

RSA Canada has been careful in projecting its corporate social responsibility (CSR) image, WWF noted. The company insures a quarter of the world’s wind turbines, as well as other environmental forms of energy such as hydro and solar power. In Canada, the company has supported WWF-Canada’s efforts to identify sites ideal for renewable energy projects.

The company is also doing its own part in the fight against climate change in more direct ways. It is limiting its own greenhouse gas emissions, with the goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 12% by 2018. RSA Canada is even going the extra mile by moving the Atlantic and Pacific offices into more energy-efficient buildings for the sake of conservation.
“What we are trying to do is demonstrate that we can run our business in a responsible way,” Martin said of his company’s efforts.

The executive is an active participant in WWF’s events, running in the London Marathon. He, along with other RSA employees, also participated in WWF’s annual Toronto Polar Dip, raising thousands of dollars.

“It’s about setting the example,” he said. “It gives people encouragement that if the boss can do it, then I can do it as well.”
 

Related stories:
Sun Life recognized for its sustainability practices
The Co-operators is recognized for ESG practices, sustainability
 

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