The Group’s Responsible & Sustainable investment policy not only avoids investment in businesses that cause social harm, such as fossil fuels, but also proactively seeks to invest in markets that have positive impacts, as well as considering environmental, social and governance factors in every investment case.

We do not have any exposure to companies that derive more than 10% of their revenue from fossil fuel exploration or production.

Our investment policy is aligned with the Paris Agreement’s goals to limit global warming to 1.5C.

Through our Climate Stewardship Plan we’re engaging with our highest emitters and holding companies to account by setting science-based targets.

Our investments are managed by a team of sustainable investment specialists at EdenTree Investment Management, an award-winning responsible and sustainable investment manager.

The Group’s insurance businesses don’t underwrite fossil fuels, heavy industry or aviation.

Alongside this, we don’t invest our premiums in businesses that cause social harm.

While we don’t underwrite the most climate-intense industries, we have an important role in helping our customers reduce their climate impacts.

We are adopting the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF) methodology to assess and understand the carbon impact of our underwriting and understand the most material areas where we can provide support and challenge action.

We’ve given nearly £500k to climate and environment causes over the past few years.

The Group’s Movement for Good programme gives small donations to a wide range of charities supporting local community action and targeted large grants to charities achieving a significant environmental impact.

Our funding is supporting charities including Heal Rewilding, which is working to restore natural habitats, and English Heritage, which is studying the impact of climate change on heritage buildings for the benefit of all historic property owners.

We’re working hard to decarbonise our business practices. We reduced our travel impacts by transitioning our fleet vehicles to electric. Currently 60% of our fleet is hybrid or electric and the average Co2 emissions are below the average for a fleet.

At the same time, we’ve moved to offices with smaller carbon footprints to enable and support more flexible working. For example, our Ecclesiastical Insurance Northern team recently moved into more energy-efficient offices in Manchester city centre, and our Ansvar UK colleagues have moved to new offices in Brighton.

We’re committed to decarbonising our direct footprint, but this won’t happen overnight, so we believe offsetting has a role. We are investing in the most highly assured offsets provided by a charitable partner which also has social benefits.