Aviva 2013 Annual Report Download - page 52

Aviva plc
Annual report and accounts 2013
50
Our wider impact continued
Leading responsible investment
As a founding signatory to the UN Principles
for Responsible Investment, we believe that
companies conducting their business in a
sustainable and responsible manner are
more likely to succeed. Our dedicated Global
Responsible Investment team at Aviva Investors
is on-hand to work with fund managers and
analysts globally and across all asset classes,
to help them integrate environmental, social
and corporate governance (ESG) issues into
our investment decision-making and analysis,
to deliver long-term shareholder value for
our clients.
Over 20 years, we have developed a deep
understanding of the conicts, barriers and
challenges to good governance. We believe such
experience and insight are crucial in identifying
and addressing risks and opportunities within our
clients’ portfolios. We have a strong commitment
to international standards and principles of good
governance, such as the UK Stewardship Code
and International Corporate Governance
Network Principles. Our corporate governance
and corporate responsibility voting policy outlines
our approach and expectation of companies.
Where we withhold support for a company,
we engage with them to help them address
our concerns.
In 2013, Aviva Investors was recognised at the
Sustainable City Awards convened by the City of
London Corporation, winning the Leadership in
Sustainability Award.
Promoting low carbon
Aviva Investors is targeting long-term protability
with a reduced risk appetite by investing in
low-carbon economy infrastructure projects.
In 2013, key acquisitions included:
§a 12.3 megawatt portfolio of residential
photovoltaic systems, which convert sunlight
directly into electricity, installed on 4,000 UK
domestic houses
§an 8.6 megawatt portfolio of residential solar
photovoltaic systems installed on over 3,000
properties across the UK.
We are funding one of the UK’s largest NHS
energy centres with the UK Green Investment
Bank, a UK Government initiative which aims
to accelerate the transition to a green economy.
This will provide around £36 million for a new
energy innovation centre at Addenbrooke’s
Hospital in Cambridge.
In the UK investment property portfolio, we
aim to have energy performance certicates in
place for our entire real estate portfolio by 2018.
Leading public debate
We take a leadership role in tackling the big social
issues relating to our sector through research
and open debate with consumers, industry
bodies, Government and other stakeholders.
In 2013, we carried out our 10th Customer
Attitudes Survey, in 13 countries, and we have
surveyed more than 250,000 people since 2004
when the survey rst started. The three greatest
concerns facing people and their nances
include: unexpected expenses, signicant
increases in the price of basic necessities, and
serious illness. We also conduct other studies:
§Our Family Finances Report looks into the
nancial experiences of different family types
§Our biannual Small and Medium Enterprise
(SME) Pulse identies the trends and challenges
facing small business owners
§Aviva Spain’s Savings and Pensions Institute
encourages consumers to save more for
their future.
Human rights
Respect for human rights should go beyond
policy setting. It has to become part of the culture
and decision-making ethos of an organisation.
Aviva is committed to upholding globally
accepted human rights principles reected in
standards and other instruments including:
§United Nations Universal Declaration of Human
Rights (UNUDHR)
§United Nations Guiding Principles for Business
and Human Rights
§International Labour Organisation (ILO) core
labour standards
§United Nations Global Compact LEAD
§UN Women’s Empowerment Principles
§UNICEF, Global Compact and Save the
Children ‘Business and Child Rights Principles’.
During 2013, we refreshed our human rights
policy in light of the UN Guiding Principles for
Business and Human Rights. Our due diligence
and risk assessments have shown that our most
material human rights risks relate to the ve
stakeholder groups shown on the next page.
Community development
Aviva has a rich legacy of community investment.
By focusing on the issues that matter most to our
customers and those that are most closely aligned
to our expertise, we will maximise the value
of our investment. This year our community
development contribution was £6.2 million, a
reduction of £4.8 million due to divestments
and reshaping our community investment
agenda in the UK.
£500m
Immediate allocation of
£500 million in the UK’s
economic growth plan as part
of the insurance industry’s
commitment of £25 billion to
infrastructure investment
£28m
Over £28 million for student
accommodation in York
£3m
£3 million for a new medical
centre in Salford
£32m
£32 million to help build
11 new re stations