Zurich pledges one million trees in Brazil reforestation project

Zurich Insurance Group will sponsor a reforestation project in Brazil that will see barren farmland restored as native forest. The project, in partnership with Instituto Terra, promises to plant one million native trees to restore the country’s Atlantic Forest and its importance for biodiversity.

Zurich said the eight-year project is part of its commitment last year as a signatory to the UN Business Ambition for 1.5°C pledge.

The Atlantic Forest was largely cleared for cattle farming in the last century and there is just 7% of the original forest left today. The project will restore between 80 and 120 different species of tree across 700 hectares of land.

Zurich said it will plant one tree for each of its 55,000 employees, with customers offered the chance to take part in the project when they buy policies.

“Tree planting can be a powerful tool for curbing climate change and preserving the variety of animals, plants and ecosystems we have on our planet,” said Alison Martin, Zurich’s CEO for Europe, Middle East and Africa. “It’s not always about how many trees you plant, but about their quality and ability to support other forms of life. With this project, we are contributing to an aspect of climate change mitigation that is often overlooked: biodiversity,” she added.

Zurich said the link between biodiversity loss and climate change can also be extended to the prevention of future pandemics. “The Covid-19 pandemic has thrown the significance of this into even sharper relief; if ecosystems deteriorate, the natural barriers between humans and potential vectors or reservoirs of disease, for example bats, begin to break down,” it said.

Zurich has also launched a new service for businesses to help them prepare for climate change risks. Climate Change Resilience Services will address both existing risks related to natural hazards and climate change, which the insurer said have become top concerns for its corporate customers.

Gabrielle Durisch, head of sustainability for commercial insurance at Zurich, said the insurer has the technology and expertise to give customers tailored advice and tools to become more resilient to climate change risks.

Customers can map their exposure to risks for their global or regional operations, specific sites or vital pieces of equipment. Zurich said it also offers solutions for risks ranging from weather events to the effects of climate change, such as temperature and sea-level rises, and guidance on sustainability.

“The scope of the new offering sets Zurich apart and underscores our commitment to sustainability and a 1.5°C future. As we undertake our own journey to sustainable business practices, we are encouraging and supporting our customers to become more sustainable and mitigate climate change-related risks,” Ms Durisch said.

The insurer said Climate Change Resilience Services is an extension of its existing natural hazards advice service.