Aviva, the international savings, investments and insurance group, was honoured as “Best in Class” in its approach to climate change disclosure in a report released today by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), a coalition of over 315 global investors with more than $41 trillion in assets.
Aviva, the international savings, investments and insurance group, was honoured as "Best in Class" in its approach to climate change disclosure in a report released today by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), a coalition of over 315 global investors with more than $41 trillion in assets.
The CDP report is a survey of the responses of "Financial Times 500" corporations on the issue of climate change. In the report, Aviva was included in the "Climate Disclosure Leadership Index", a prestigious honour roll for global companies addressing the challenges of climate change.
The Climate Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI), produced by report writers Innovest, comprises 68 FT500 companies that show distinction in their responses to the Carbon Disclosure Project survey based on their reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and assessment of climate change strategies.
Louella Eastman, group CSR director, Aviva, said: "As a forward thinking company - and the first global insurer to go carbon neutral - we want to play our part in addressing the issue of climate change. We are committed to reducing our CO2 output and are encouraging others to do the same through our influence as an investor and purchaser, as well as developing insurance products that incentivise climate-friendly behaviour. It's encouraging to see our efforts rewarded with our inclusion, for the second time, in the Climate Disclosure Leadership Index."
All companies in the FT500 sample were assessed relative to their peers to provide an evaluation for investors through the CDLI on which companies have developed the most comprehensive climate change disclosure practices. Innovest rank companies on a 100 point scale and all companies which achieved a score of 85 or over are featured in the CDLI.
Climate Disclosure Leadership Index members were distinguished by the disclosure of their awareness of the risks and opportunities of climate change, as well as the quality and effectiveness of programmes put in place to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions.
"Aviva has set itself apart from its peers by disclosing the information required by investors to judge its readiness for the challenges and opportunities posed by climate change," said CDP chief executive, Paul Dickinson.
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Notes to editors:
Aviva
- Aviva is the leading provider of life and pensions to Europe with substantial positions in other markets around the world, making it the world's fifth largest insurance group based on gross worldwide premiums at 31 December 2006.
- Aviva's principal business activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, with worldwide total sales of £41.5 billion and assets under management of £364 billion at 31 December 2006.
- The Aviva media centre at www.aviva.com/media includes images, company and product information and a news release archive.
- Aviva's statement on climate change: "The core of our business is making provision for future events. As a forward thinking insurer we are making provision for the effects of climate change through adapting and creating new products and services to meet this challenge. We also seek to reduce our own CO2 output and we encourage others to do the same through our influence as an investor and purchaser. We will work with others to better understand the future implications of climate change and play our part in helping to develop and deliver society's continuing response."
- For more on Aviva and CSR visit www.aviva.com/csr
Carbon Disclosure Project
- The Carbon Disclosure Project is a special project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors in New York. The group of investors is not a legal entity and the Carbon Disclosure Project has no authority to make any other statement on behalf of the participants. Full details on CDP, the CDP reports and the responses from corporations can be found at http://www.cdproject.net/
- All companies in the FT500 sample were assessed relative to their peers to provide an evaluation for investors, through the CDLI on which companies have developed the most comprehensive climate change disclosure practices. Innovest rank companies on a 100 point scale and all companies which achieved a score of 85 or over are featured in the CDLI.
- The CDP5 report was written by Innovest Strategic Value Advisors www.innovestgroup.com