As climate change worsens and Australia is increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, insurance companies have grown busy seeking sustainable solutions.
Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich) is one insurer in the country that is actively creating and implementing sustainable initiatives. In July 2021, Zurich teamed up with other major insurance companies to establish the Net-Zero Insurance Alliance (NZIA). Most recently, the insurance giant reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability by revealing its targets, roles, and customer initiatives.
In an interview with Insurance Business TV (IBTV), Shaneen Marshall, head of strategy and sustainability at Zurich, outlined Zurich's sustainability plans and her role in achieving them.
As the head of strategy and sustainability, Marshall leads and oversees the execution of Zurich's sustainability commitments in Australia and New Zealand, and she’s focused on three things.
“Firstly, operations and our value chain and making sure we reduce emissions; secondly, encouraging our and supporting our customers and our partners on their transition to net zero; and thirdly – which is really important – is supporting a more resilient Australia and New Zealand,” she told Insurance Business (IB). “As we know, we're going to have to prepare for changes in climate and weather patterns, and we need to support the communities in Australia and New Zealand to become more, more resilient. So, those are the three aspects that I think are part of my role.”
However, Marshall emphasised that everyone in the organisation must focus on the trio.
“I think it's every person in Zurich's responsibility to do something about sustainability,” she said. “And I want to unlock the inner activist in every one of our Zurich employees through awareness, education, inspiration, and holding everybody accountable to meeting our commitments.”
Find out more about Marshall and Zurich's plans to make Australia more resilient to climate change's impacts by watching her IBTV interview here.
