Protecting society, fostering innovation and supporting economic development

The role of insurance in keeping our world functioning cannot be underestimated. In the face of increasing climate-related risk, sustainable insurance aims to reduce risk, develop innovative solutions, improve business performance, and contribute to environmental, social and economic sustainability. Santam recognises that climate change poses serious risks to the stability and quality of society and the economy. We also understand the important role that insurers play in rehabilitating communities after a disaster. As a leading insurer in South Africa, we offer solutions that get individuals, businesses and communities back on their feet. We are committed to being at the forefront of innovation by participating in global organisations aimed at addressing climate risk and conducting research and studies that lead to insurance good and proper.

Building and partnering for resilience

To make a real difference, we believe it's important to focus on public-private partnerships. One example of how we're collaborating with others is our Partnership for Risk and Resilience (P4RR) programme. This initiative helps communities develop flood and fire disaster resilience through pragmatic preventive measures, thus fulfilling our vision of narrowing the risk protection gap. The programme has to date empowered 82 municipalities through improved disaster preparedness via training and resources.

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Adopting best practice in response to climate change

Santam is a signatory to the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). We have joined more than 1,800 organizations in demonstrating a commitment to building a more resilient financial system and safeguarding ourselves against climate risk through better disclosures. We believe that the widespread implementation of the TCFD recommendations will provide investors, lenders and insurance underwriters with consistent and relevant information to understand the economic risks and opportunities resulting from climate change.

Climate change adaptation

Climate change is a challenge we need to take on together. The Green Book is a multi-disciplinary, open-access planning support system that provides evidence to South African municipalities to adapt their cities and towns to current and future climate change impacts based on their risk assessment. The Green Book offers an in-depth, current, and future (up to the year 2050) climate risk and vulnerability profile for every one of the 213 municipalities in the country, whilst providing downscaled profiles for selected metros. Through P4RR, we have partnered with CSIR to further drive the adoption of the Green Book by municipalities.

Staying ahead in a changing environment

Cover for renewable energy

While fossil fuels still have a role to play in our lives today, renewable energy is the future and is key to mitigating our country’s emissions. Mirabilis and Emerald, two of our specialist underwriting managers, provide insurance for this growing energy sector.

Insurance for Agriculture

Agriculture is on the frontline of climate change. Veld fires, drought and other climate-related disasters are risks that our farmers face every day. Santam is an expert in agriculture insurance, and we go out of our way to understand the industry's many risks.

Crop insurance

As your partner in agriculture, we understand that effective risk management is crucial to keep farms viable. We invest in our own research into conditions affecting crops and use this knowledge to advise and create effective risk management solutions for a sustainable future.

Proud member of ClimateWise

Santam has been a member of ClimateWise since 2009. ClimateWise is a voluntary global membership initiative that brings together reinsurers, insurers brokers, and industry service providers to respond to the opportunities and challenges presented by climate change. Members take part in joint projects and report back yearly on their progress against seven principles.

The ClimateWise Principles are:

Be accountable

Incorporate climate-related issues into our strategies and investments

Lead in the identification, understanding and management of climate risk

Reduce the environmental impact of the business

Inform public policy making

Support climate awareness amongst our customers/clients

Enhance reporting

Learning from the Knysna fires

Learning from past disasters is the best way to protect ourselves from future risks. We commissioned an in-depth, authoritative and independent report into the fires that struck Knysna in 2017.

Download the report

Our ESG Performance

We are signatories to UNEP PSI, UN Global Compact, and TCFD. We are members of ClimateWise and a respondent to CDP.

Our Policies/Position Statements

Environment
2023
Coal Position Statement
2023
Human rights statement
2023
Code of ethics
2022
Climate Change position statement
2022
Anti-bribery and Anti-Corruption Policy
2022
Whistleblowers Policy

Our Reports

ESG Disclosures
2023
Climate-related Financial Disclosure Report
2023
Carbon Footprint Report
2023
FTSE4Good Certificate
2023
CDP Climate Change (in conjunction with Sanlam)
2022
ClimateWise report
2021
Climate-related Financial Disclosure Report