Policy for ESG-related Underwriting, Investments and Loans
The SOMPO Group strives to make the world more resilient. We see sustainability as a long-term driver of value, and we rely on insights gained from SOMPO’s Purpose to guide our underwriting, investment, and business decision-making.
To ensure that each company in the Group fulfills its corporate social responsibility, we have established a Group Sustainability Vision and other policies, and based on these, we identify market opportunities, manage risk, and enhance our corporate value through community involvement, social responsibility, and diversity, equity and inclusion.
The Group's ESG principles on underwriting, investments, and loans is as follows.
Advancing the Energy Transition
As the most significant challenge humankind faces, we believe the world – and the financial services sector – must take meaningful climate action today. Therefore, we commit to net zero emissions in our underwriting, investments, and operations by 2050.
We promote the transition through our insurance of and investments in renewable energy and other innovative green technologies.
We will not underwrite new insurance or make new investments in or loans for new or existing coal power plants or thermal coal mine projects *1. We also will not underwrite new insurance or make new investments in or loans for oil and gas extraction projects in the oil sands or the AMAP area(Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme)*2.
We will not underwrite new or renewal insurance or make investments in or loans to companies whose primary business is coal *3, or oil and gas extraction projects in the ANWR, unless a GHG reduction plan is established by January 2025 *4.
We have been a signatory to the United Nation’s Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI) and Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) for several years, and in order to more proactively realize the goals of the Paris Agreement, the Group has joined the Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance (NZAOA), and the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative (NZAM).
We aim to support our customers on their sustainability journey, working with them to reduce their carbon footprint.
Advancing Social Equity
Under the Group Policy for Human Rights, the Group acts with a commitment to respecting the fundamental human rights of all stakeholders in the global marketplace.
With the aim of enabling each and every employee to maximize his or her strengths, we have positioned diversity, equity and inclusion as an important management strategy for growth, and are working to build a system and corporate culture to realize this goal.
In addition, when underwriting insurance, making investments and/or loans, and/or when entering into new partnerships with business partners (brokers, reinsurers, investment managers, lessees, vendors, etc.), we are guided by our Group Sustainability Vision and Policy.
Aspiring for Excellence in Governance
Based on the Group Sustainability Vision, the Group will make business decisions based on high ethical standards, respecting international codes of conduct and considering the interests of all stakeholders, including customers, employees, local communities, and shareholders.
In addition, we will proactively and fairly disclose transparent information to society regarding our progress toward achieving our goals, etc., in accordance with TCFD and other disclosure standards.
- We may carefully consider and respond to cases where there are innovative technologies such as Carbon Dioxide Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCS, CCUS), carbon recycling, ammonia co-firing, or other innovative technologies in place that are expected to reduce GHG emissions and contribute to the realization of the Paris Agreement.
- Defined by AMAP, excluding operations in Norwegian territories.
- Defined as companies that derive at least 20% of their revenues from coal-fired power generation, thermal coal mines, or oil sands, or electric utilities companies that generate at least 20% of their energy from coal.
- These restrictions will not apply to insurance that supports the health and wellbeing of individuals, e.g. workers' compensation insurance.