a.s.r. will consider not only climate, but also nature and biodiversity in its insurance and investment activities going forward.
In its Climate and Nature Transition Plan 2026, the insurer observed that climate change and nature loss reinforce each other, and that both feed into risks for customers, portfolios and ultimately the insurability of activities.
Mariska van Donge, head of sustainability at a.s.r., said: “For an insurer, nature and biodiversity are not abstract concepts. They influence claims frequency, repair costs, long-term risks and the question of what remains insurable. That is why we are increasingly factoring nature into our choices, just as we do with climate. At the same time, we recognise that knowledge of nature-related risks is less advanced than that of climate-related risks. This is how we, step by step, work towards becoming an insurer that looks ahead and takes responsibility for the long term.”
In non-life insurance, a.s.r. will assess - both for new and existing policies - whether and how risks are insurable, taking nature and biodiversity-related risks into account. In addition, a.s.r. intends to develop an engagement programme for commercial clients and their advisers in sectors and regions with heightened biodiversity risks, such as areas near vulnerable natural environments. The programme aims to inform and inspire them to take action to mitigate biodiversity loss and to contribute to nature restoration.
In real estate, a.s.r. will incorporate nature more explicitly into location and portfolio decisions. This includes the use of improved data on soil and water, as well as concrete measures such as green lease arrangements and ecological improvements around buildings and agricultural land.
Within a.s.r. asset management, biodiversity is being integrated into investment assessments, through engagement, exclusions and targeted impact investments. Within health insurance, the focus on nature translates into practical choices, such as reducing waste and resource use and scaling up more sustainable alternatives.