Annual Report 2010 - Hannover Re

Social commitment
Hannover Re’s commitment as a sponsor of learning, art, culture
and social projects dates back to its founding in 1966.
Essentially, our social involvement can be subdivided into four
areas: sponsorship, foundation support, donations and assistance
with words and deeds. The latter encompasses the voluntary
activities performed by our staff as well as their passing
on of know-how at our various locations worldwide.
Sponsorship
Hannover Re already maintains long-standing partnerships
with different areas of society in the role of sponsor. Particularly
close to our heart are support for research and learning
as well as music and art.
Research and learning
The reinsurance of catastrophe risks forms part of Hannover
Re’s core business. In order to correctly assess risks, a constant
transfer of knowledge between business and research
– which enables Hannover Re to apply the very latest insights –
is of crucial importance. In this context the company supports
the highly renowned Geo Research Center in Potsdam, an institution
that engages in the systematic investigation and
early detection of earthquakes.
Hannover Re also supports the Kestnergesellschaft, an art
association whose roots in Hannover go back to 1916, through
its participation in the latter’s partner programme: in its role
as a “kestnerpartner” the company is able to promote the society’s
work on a continuous and lasting basis.
Foundation
In 1991 Hannover Re launched an art foundation that benefits
the Sprengel Museum in Hannover. It was launched in 1991
to mark the company’s twenty-fifth anniversary. The Sprengel
Museum ranks among the foremost German museums of
twentieth-century art thanks to its extensive collection and
diverse range of temporary exhibitions. The Foundation’s mission
is to promote Hannover as a centre for the fine arts
through the acquisition of contemporary pieces, which are
then made available to the Sprengel Museum on permanent
loan. The Foundation is further tasked with financing publications
and events to accompany the exhibitions.
Donations
In the year under review Hannover Re adopted a new Donations
Guideline, under which the company donates a total of
EUR 100,000 per year in support of various projects; the funds
are shared equally between the following categories:
Management report
Since 2009 Hannover Re has also supported the Global Earthquake
Model (GEM) project initiated by the OECD with financial
backing of altogether EUR 1 million. The model, which
should be developed by 2013, is intended among other things
to help local authorities in earthquake-exposed zones to draw
up more efficient contingency plans and, if disaster strikes, to
facilitate the more rapid delivery of aid.
With a view to extending its dialogue with universities, Hannover
Re assists institutions of higher learning in a variety of
ways – including for example the University of Hannover,
where it sponsors an endowed professorship in actuarial
science. In 2010 our company also lent its support to a more
internationally-oriented training in law at the University of
Göttingen.
Music and art
E+S Rück, the subsidiary of Hannover Re responsible for the
German market, organises so-called examination concerts in
cooperation with the University of Music, Drama and Media
Hannover. Since the first concert was held back in 1998, we
have assisted three to four of the university’s “master students”
each year as they seek to embark on their career as
soloists, while at the same time offering our clients a musical
highlight.
• social and scientific causes,
• environment and climate protection,
• staff (further and advanced training, compatibility of work
and family life),
• protection and welfare of young people,
• advancement of medicine/humanitarian projects.
The awarding of donations is guided above all by the criterion
of benefit to the public. We do not donate to organisations or
projects in the following areas: politics, churches and religious
movements, protection of historical buildings or animal welfare.
Environment and ecological responsibility
Climate protection and conservation of resources
Although Hannover Re’s environmental footprint is comparatively
slight as a service company, we attach special importance
to the issue of environmental protection. Consequently,
Hannover Re is a partner in numerous initiatives for climate
and environmental protection and has set itself the goal of
reducing emissions as far as possible. In the year under review
alone we cut our CO 2 emissions by a further 15%.
Hannover Re Group annual report 2010
Corporate Social Responsibility Management report
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