Sustainability
Sustainability at Zurich
At Zurich, we believe in action and making a positive impact through our role as insurer, investor, employer and member of the community. We have the knowledge, skills, capabilities and spirit to make a difference through our local and global sustainability commitments.
This approach has seen Zurich Group receive the highest-possible ESG rating from MSCI, receiving a AAA rating in 2025.
Read more about Zurich Group’s Sustainability goals and Climate Transition Plan here: Sustainability at Zurich
Zurich Australia and New Zealand is taking action to progress towards a low carbon economy and contribute to Zurich Group's Sustainability goals. We have committed to:
- Reduce absolute emissions from our operations (including electricity, waste, paper, and travel) by 60% by 2025, and by 76% by 2029 from our 2019 baseline; and
- Procure renewable electricity certificates where available.
The fit-out of Zurich Tower, home to Zurich's Australian headquarters in Sydney, was awarded a 5 Star ‘Green Star’ Rating by the Green Building Council of Australia in 2020.
Zurich Group supports global efforts in community disaster preparedness and relief, most notably through the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance.
In 2020, Zurich Australia contributed $2.58m to bushfire and COVID-19 relief efforts.
Since 2023, Zurich Australia has partnered with the Australian Red Cross through the Urban Climate Resilience Program, to help build community preparedness for extreme heat events in Western Sydney.
We believe that our knowledge, experience, and relationships position us to support our customers, partners, and community in transitioning to a 1.5°C future and building resilience to a changing climate.
In 2020, Zurich Resilience Solutions launched dedicated risk management services to help businesses understand their exposure to natural hazards and potential future risks. Find out more about Zurich Resilience Services here: Zurich Resilience Solutions.
Zurich uses Post-Event Review Capability (PERC) methodology to conduct research and independent reviews of natural catastrophes to identify best practice and opportunities for improvement. In 2021, Zurich Australia released a PERC report about the 2018/19 Tasmanian bushfires.
Knowledge hub & downloads
Access more industry knowledge here and on our Climate Resilience website.
Extreme heat is Australia's silent killer. How can we build a more resilient future?
We are proud to announce the launch of the Post‑Event Review Capability (PERC) Extreme Heat Series of insights, developed through our partnership with Australian Red Cross and research partners.
Extreme heat is Australia’s deadliest natural hazard, but its impacts are often underestimated. These reports provide a powerful, systems-based understanding of this growing challenge, offering new insights into:
- How extreme heat risk is created across our society
- Who is most affected by extreme heat events
- What practical actions can strengthen resilience for communities, workplaces, and cities
Read the reports: Discover practical entry points for action and explore the complete PERC Extreme Heat Series below:
Understanding extreme heat and entry points for action
Heat stress at work
Strengthening resilience to extreme heat: an Adelaide case study