News
Australia: Aviva to be first insurer to carbon neutralise its operations worldwide
17 January, 2007
Aviva, the global savings, investment and insurance group, has
announced its commitment to become the first insurer to carbon
neutralise its operations on a worldwide basis.
Allan Griffiths, chief executive officer of Aviva Australia, said
the announcement provided an important endorsement of Aviva
Australia's ongoing program of sustainable business practices
including limiting its impact on the environment.
Aviva will compensate for the carbon output of its consumption of
non-renewable sourced electricity and gas from buildings and
business travel, including air, car and train, across all of its
global operations. This will be on a retrospective basis starting
with emissions generated in 2006.
To neutralise the carbon impact of its business globally, Aviva
will invest in projects which generate carbon credits. The credits
will come from a combination of carbon mitigation methods such as
tree planting and renewable energy generation projects which do not
release carbon to the atmosphere such as solar or wind power.
“Aviva Australia already invests in environmental
programs,” said Allan Griffiths. “These include a
partnership with Conservation Volunteers Australia to plant native
Australian flora, along with being a signatory to the United
Nations Environmental Program Financial Initiatives. We monitor and
report on our greenhouse gas emissions through the Greenhouse
Challenge Plus audit program. We are also heavily involved in
community education on sustainability through an information
sharing program with the Monash Environment Institute and through
our role on the steering committee for the Melbourne-based Business
and the Environment (BATE) forum.”
As well as reducing emissions by efficient use of energy and
encouraging staff to use public transport or to walk or cycle to
work, Aviva Australia will continue its targeted community
education program including sustainable agreements with suppliers,
public reporting through its annual Corporate Social Responsibility
report and public presentations and papers on sound sustainable
practice.
Allan added: “Our funds management company, Portfolio
Partners, is a leader in the Australian market for sustainable
investment, launching their Long/Short Sustainability Trust and
becoming the first Australian Fund Manager to be a signatory on the
United Nations ‘Principles for Responsible Investment’.
In 2006, Portfolio Partners was recognised for its own sustainable
business practices at the Australian Business Awards –
winning in three categories - Recommended Employer, Environmental
Awareness and Innovation.”
Portfolio Partners report directly to Aviva’s Morley Funds
Management group in the United Kingdom. Morley Funds is a leader in
socially responsible investment and has long been promoting
effective corporate responsibility towards climate change through
its signature to the "Institutional Investors' Statement on Climate
Change".
Richard Harvey, group chief executive, Aviva plc said: "Our
decision to go carbon neutral is a significant step and one we have
not entered into lightly. We believe climate change to be the most
important environmental issue facing the world and as a forward
thinking company we are playing our part in addressing this
challenge and would encourage other businesses to follow
suit.”
"Aviva operates in 25 countries around the world making us well
placed to make a positive impact on the environment and educate
others on the importance of the issue and its effect.”
-ends-
For
further information please contact:
Tim Cobb
General Manager Marketing and Public Relations
Phone: (03) 9829 8509
Mobile: 0418 529 387
Notes to editors:
- Aviva Australia is a group of two specialist financial services companies: Navigator and Norwich Union Life Australia Ltd. Portfolio Partners is the Australian funds management arm of Aviva plc. Through these companies we provide products and services in the areas of wealth creation and wealth protection for more than 300,000 customers throughout Australia.
- Globally, Aviva Australia is part of Aviva plc, the world’s fifth-largest insurance group, the UK’s largest insurance services provider (based on gross worldwide premiums at 31 December 2005), and one of the leading providers of life and pension products to Europe, with substantial positions in other markets around the world.
- Aviva’s principal business activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, with worldwide total sales of A$82.3 billion (Ł35 billion) and assets under management of A$745 billion (Ł317 billion) at 31 December 2005.
- The information in this document reflects Aviva Australia Holdings Limited (ABN 38 095 045 784) understanding of existing legislation, proposed legislation, rulings etc as at the date of issue. In some cases the information has been provided to us by third parties. While it is believed the information is accurate and reliable, this is not guaranteed in any way. The information given in this document is of a general nature and has not taken into account the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person and it is not a substitute for professional advice. Applications to invest in a financial product issued by Aviva, or any of its related entities, must be made by completing the application form attached to the applicable Product Disclosure Statement ("PDS"). A PDS is available from Aviva or your financial adviser. Before making an investment decision on the basis of the information above, a prospective investor needs to consider, with or without the assistance of a professional adviser whether the information is appropriate in the light of their particular investment needs, objectives and financial circumstances. Aviva does not receive any remuneration in relation to the provision of information available from this press release which is of a general nature only.
