We have expanded the list of climate policies we assess company engagement with to incorporate land-use related policy, referring to legislative or regulatory measures to enhance and protect ecosystems and land where carbon is being stored. Assessments under this category are currently underweighted in terms of their contribution to the overall company metrics. This weighting will be progressively increased over the next 6 months.
We adjusted the terminology used to describe the queries running down the left-hand side of our scoring matrix and added additional explanatory text to the info-boxes. This has no impact on the scores and methodology. It has been done following user feedback to improve clarity.
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Michael Szönyi (Group sustainability executive, Zurich Insurance) is a vice-chair of the Insurance Europe Sustainability Working Group
Michael Szönyi
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Zurich Assurance Ltd, Zurich Insurance plc (both Zurich Insurance Group Ltd) are members of ABI which is a national association member of Insurance Europe
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Michael Szönyi (Group sustainability executive, Zurich Insurance) is a vice-chair of the Insurance Europe Sustainability Working Group
Michael Szönyi
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Zurich Assurance Ltd, Zurich Insurance plc (both Zurich Insurance Group Ltd) are members of ABI which is a national association member of Insurance Europe
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
Zurich Invest is a member of Asset Management Association Switzerland, which is a national association member of EFAMA
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
Zurich Investment Services is a member of the Investment Association which is a national association member of Invest Europe. Scoring Note: Relationship not scored as Zurich Investment Services does no longer appear to be a member of the Investment Association.
not specified
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
Zurich Invest is a member of Asset Management Association Switzerland, which is a national association member of EFAMA
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
Zurich Investment Services is a member of the Investment Association which is a national association member of Invest Europe. Scoring Note: Relationship not scored as Zurich Investment Services does no longer appear to be a member of the Investment Association.
not specified
In this section, we depict graphically the relationships the corporation has with trade associations, federations, advocacy groups and other third parties who may be acting on their behalf to influence climate change policy. Each of the columns above represents one relationship the corporation appears to have with such a third party. In these columns, the top, dark section represents the strength of the relationship the corporation has with the influencer. For example if a corporation's senior executive also held a key role in the trade association, we would deem this to be a strong relationship and it would be on the far left of the chart above, with the weaker ones to the right. Click on these grey shaded upper sections for details of these relationships. The middle section contains a link to the organization score details of the influencer concerned, so you can see the details of its climate change policy influence. Click on the middle sections for for details of the trade associations. The lower section contains the organization score of that influencer, the lower the more negatively it is influencing climate policy.
Open PDF file of Data Source
Sustainable Finance Lobbying Overview: Zurich appears to have some broadly positive but limited engagement on sustainable finance policy.
Top-line Messaging on Sustainable Finance Policy: Zurich has stated support for urgent action by the insurance sector on climate change and achieving net-zero economies by 2050. It has also stated broad support for the EU's Sustainable Finance Action Plan in its 2020 CDP response.
Position on Regulated Corporate ESG Disclosure: In its 2021 Climate Report, Zurich stated support for regulated corporate ESG disclosure and was supportive of the ISSB Climate and Sustainability Disclosure draft in 2022. In response to DWP in 2020 it stated broad support for mandatory TCFD implementation for pension schemes, although argued for a delayed timeline and less prescriptive disclosure requirements.
Position on Taxonomies: In its 2021 Climate Report, Zurich stated support for the development of science-based taxonomies.
Position on ESG Labels, Standards and Benchmarks: In response to the Commission in 2020, Zurich supported the inclusion of ESG factors in retail clients' preferences and products, as well as verification of the EU Green Bond Standard. However, it did not support the Commission's suggestions for a number of new ESG labels and standards.
Position on Integrating ESG into Investor Duties: In a 2018 response to a DWP consultation, Zurich appeared to oppose engaging with pension scheme members on ESG preferences.
Industry Association Governance: Zurich has not disclosed any engagement through trade associations. Zurich has memberships to numerous industry associations that are engaging negatively on sustainable finance policy, including the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI), the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) and the US Chamber of Commerce, as well as industry associations with more mixed engagement including Insurance Europe.