Definity Financial Corporation
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2023)
Reporting Period: 2023
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:30,833 tCO2e (net of reductions from GNG and RECs)
Scope 1 Emissions:1,691 tCO2e
Scope 2 Emissions:177 tCO2e (market-based)
Scope 3 Emissions:29,560 tCO2e (excluding investments)
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate Change
- Workforce Diversity & Inclusion
- Business Ethics
- Community Investment
- Responsible Investment
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 25% relative to 2019 baseline levels
- Launched Sonnet Shift, a usage-based insurance product incentivizing less driving
Social Achievements
- Contributed $2,350,000 to the Definity Insurance Foundation
- More than doubled employee volunteerism year-over-year
- Launched initiatives to advance Indigenous reconciliation
- Developed practical tools to assess and mitigate bias in machine learning models
Governance Achievements
- Established a Climate Centre of Excellence
- Published a Human Rights Policy Statement
- MSCI ESG Rating upgraded from BBB to AA
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Achieve net-zero emissions in operations and investment portfolio by 2040 or sooner
Medium-term Goals:
- Reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030
- Reduce Scope 3 (investments) emissions intensity by 65% by 2030
Short-term Goals:
- Reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 30% by 2025
- Reduce Scope 3 (investments) emissions intensity by 30% by 2025
Environmental Challenges
- Increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events impacting claims and operations
- Transition risks associated with a low-carbon economy
- Maintaining competitive pricing and coverage options in a changing market
- Managing climate-related risks in investment portfolio
Mitigation Strategies
- Integrated climate risk and opportunity considerations across the business
- Developed relationships with reinsurers to manage catastrophe loss exposure
- Incorporated climate risks and opportunities into capital and operating budget planning
- Adopted targets to reduce emissions intensity of equity and corporate bond investments
- Enhanced modeling capabilities to understand climate-related risk exposures
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
- Pilot project introducing electric vehicles into fleet
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Flooding
- Wildfires
- Extreme wind events
- Sea level rise
- Extreme temperatures
- Water stress/drought
- Ice storms
Transition Risks
- Regulatory intervention
- Stakeholder action
- Carbon pricing
- Market contraction
- Liability
Opportunities
- Operational efficiency improvements
- Renewable energy development
- Building retrofits
- Electric vehicles
- New product and service development
- Climate-smart investments
- Community investment for climate resilience
- Advocacy for climate solutions
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI, SASB, TCFD (implicitly), PCAF
Third-party Assurance: Ernst & Young LLP (EY)
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Sonnet Shift
- AgriEnhance
Awards & Recognition
- Forbes Canada’s Best Employers for Diversity
- Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures
- Best Workplaces™ in Canada
- Guidewire Software Innovation Award