Since February 2008, all company cars owned by the Allianz Group have been carbon neutral, and the fleet of 344 cars will remain so in 2009. Allianz is offsetting the carbon dioxide they emit, some 1445 tonnes, by investing in the Yuntdag wind farm in Turkey. At the end of February, First Climate (Germany) GmbH, one of the world's leading emissions trading companies, commended Allianz for its efforts.
Wind turbines counter emissions
Yuntdag is currently Turkey's second-largest wind farm. It has comprises 17 turbines connected to the wind farm substation by underground cables, and its annual output will be approximately 160,834 MWh. In a country that currently obtains most of its electricity from fossil fuels, this facility is aiding the transition to renewable energy sources.
Wind power is a key alternative to fossil fuels
Allianz is committed to climate protection
Back in 2005, Allianz introduced a comprehensive package of climate protection measures designed to reduce its own specific carbon dioxide emissions, most of which come from the energy requirements of its offices and from business travel. The Group objective is to reduce carbon emissions at Allianz companies worldwide by at least 20 percent by 2012.
Allianz is also developing climate-friendly products. "Since the introduction of ECOmotion in 2007, we have a 'green product' available in combination with car insurance that allows individuals to neutralize their own CO2 emissions. This allows motorists to maintain the same level of mobility yet protect the climate at the same time," explains Volker M. Berger, ECOmotion product manager at Allianz Versicherungs-AG.
Keeping track of the investment
The fee for this product – some 30 euros per year for a VW Golf, for example – is invested in recognized carbon dioxide reduction projects worldwide that adhere to the "Gold Standard" developed jointly with the WWF. The cost of this CO2 mitigation certificate depends on the type of vehicle and the number of kilometers driven per year.
"Customers can visit our website (see link below), where we detail where their money is invested and explain the implications of the individual investments. We believe it is extremely important for our customers to understand the concept of worldwide emissions trading, because ultimately it is of no consequence where in the world we protect the climate," says Berger.
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