We actively support the work of local and international initiatives for climate protection. In 2017, as in the previous years, we participated in the survey conducted by the CDP. Information related to climate change is published here with a special orientation towards the capital market. In 2017 we achieved a "B" score (corresponding to the second-best level) and thus retained our rating from the previous year. In 2018 we shall again participate in the CDP survey.

As part of the "Climate Alliance Hannover 2020" initiative we have undertaken to emit altogether 40% less harmful greenhouse gases by 2020 than in 1990. Under the "Climate Alliance" we additionally participate in the Business Strategy Group of the "Master Plan 2050 for the City and Region of Hannover, 100% for Climate Protection".

Since 2007 we have also taken part in the "Ecological Project for Integrated Environmental Technology" (Ecoprofit) of the Greater Hannover region. The underlying idea of the project is to combine economic gain and ecological benefit through preventive environmental protection. The participating companies are regularly involved in work on specific topics such as "Ecoprofit in the Urban Development Process" and "Current Changes in Energy Management". The energy-saving successes already achieved are regularly publicised in the relevant project publications.

In addition, we are a member of the "Ruschlikon e-administration in (Re)insurance" initiative of the Association for Cooperative Operation Research and Development (ACORD). ACORD is a global non-profit organisation working to improve data quality and information exchange standards for the (re)insurance industry and related financial services providers. Among other things, its system makes possible the paperless processing of official documents and hence opens up potential savings in paper consumption. In the year under review one large broker and a primary insurer were connected to the system. It is envisaged that another large broker will be connected by the end of 2018. The goal is to process most loss advices and posting transactions electronically in the future.

Our subsidiary E+S Rück has published detailed analyses of approaches to biodiversity damage in its "Schriftenreihe" series of publications (issue numbers 14 and 15). The studies show that even slight impairments of biodiversity can give rise to considerable environmental damage. Our goal is to inform about these risks and raise awareness of them. As we see it, it is the responsibility of society as a whole to identify biodiversity risks as quickly as possible, recognise them as such and eliminate them.

We also participate actively in the Geneva Association working group on "Extreme Events and Climate Risks". For further information please see the chapter on "Product responsibility".