What’s New: In Brief (March 31, 2008)

Desjardins General Insurance (DGI) has launched a financial aid fund for caisse members that cannot afford insurance and DGI policyholders that have inadequate coverage potentially leading to their financial demise.
The annual budget is 1% of DGI’s net income, to a maximum of Cdn$1 million, the company reports in a release. The fund’s 2008 budget is Cdn$1 million.
Policyholders or members, Desjardins caisse branches in Qubec and DGI employees can make requests for assistance.
A management committee made up of three members of Desjardins Group’s Councils of Representatives, one caisse general manager and one DGI senior manager will analyze requests for financial aid and allocate funds.

Swiss Re is doubling its emission-reducing target for 2013 to 30%.
In October 2003 Swiss Re announced its intent to become fully carbon neutral in 10 years a goal that was achieved ahead of target in 2007.
In addition, the company was ahead of schedule in reducing its CO2 emissions by 15% per employee by 2013.
Given the urgency of the climate issue, Swiss Re has decided to reduce its CO2 emissions by 30% per employee by 2013, the company reports in a release.
In addition, at the start of 2008, Swiss Re acquired and decommissioned emission reduction certificates equivalent to 230,000 tons of CO2 emissions.
“This means that the company’s entire emissions since October 2003 have now been offset, including those resulting from business flights,” the company reports.