Assurant Inc

This policy, which is reviewed by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of Assurant, Inc.'s Board of Directors, sets forth the basic principles and oversight of Assurant's lobbying activities, political contributions, political action committee ("PAC"), and trade association participation. [...] Assurant's public policy priorities are determined in consultation with the company's business units and the company's most senior executives. Assurant maintains policies and procedures to ensure that its political activities are conducted in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations. [...] Assurant conducts its political and public policy activities through its Government Affairs & Regulatory Legal group, which employs professionals who are responsible for analyzing proposed political contributions and related expenditures. The Government Affairs & Regulatory Legal team receives training on compliance with laws and regulations and reporting of any violations, and reports to Assurant's Chief Legal Officer. [...] The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors exercises oversight over Assurant's political activities, including Assurant's public policy priorities, engagement with officials and other stakeholders, and compliance with laws and regulations. The Committee reviews Assurant's lobbying activities, political contributions, and any payments that will be used for political purposes to trade associations or other tax exempt organizations . The Corporation does not make contributions that may/will be used for political purposes to 501(c)(4) organizations. The Committee receives an annual report on Assurant's political activities.

Assurant works with state and federal regulators, focusing especially on our relationships in areas facing elevated risk from climate change, such as those along the coasts, or national programs exposed to this risk, like FEMA. We believe engagement with regulators provides the best path to address climate-related risks while ensuring access to fair-priced insurance. We also offer lower insurance rates for structures that are built inland or adopt climate-resilient improvements as allowed by local regulations. Our approach to regulatory engagement advocates for policies that help to mitigate climate-related risk. For example, we work with regulators to incentivize lower risk behaviors, such as adopting climate-resilient construction practices. Assurant has a meteorologist on our claims and operations team who visits communities after catastrophes, such as hurricanes and flooding, to learn about the disaster's impact on local communities. These learnings are communicated to regulators and other decision-makers, as well as the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), to influence future building codes, laws and regulations to support climate-resilient communities and avoid future losses. We also work closely with state and local insurance departments to promote fair assessments of building construction that actively mitigate their properties' climate change risks. In addition, we offer policies that have an impact on whether people build in high-risk areas, such as a flood-plain or other catastrophe-prone areas. We believe that by pricing insurance policies to include the cost of climate-related impacts, we can reduce risk behavior, influencing the market and reducing our and our partners' risk. For example, we offer insurance policies that incentivize lower risk behaviors, like adopting climate resilient construction practices. [...] We also work with non-profits (trade and professional organizations) to bolster understanding of the climate change issues impacting our business. Our employees serve on committees of the American Property Casualty Industry Association (APCIA), the Life Insurance Council of New York, Inc, (LICONY), the Housing Policy Council and IBHS. Our company's membership in these organizations provide financial support that both advances research to better fortify homes and funds public policy forums to educate the public about property mitigation and resiliency.

Describe the process(es) your organization has in place to ensure that your engagement activities are consistent with your overall climate change strategy[…]Assurant works with state and federal regulators, focusing especially on our relationships in areas facing elevated risk from climate change, such as those along the coasts, or national programs exposed to this risk, like FEMA. We believe engagement with regulators provides the best path to address climate-related risks while ensuring access to fair-priced insurance. We also offer lower insurance rates for structures that are built inland or adopt climate-resilient improvements as allowed by local regulations.

Our approach to regulatory engagement advocates for policies that help to mitigate climate-related risk. For example, we work with regulators to incentivize lower risk behaviors, such as adopting climate-resilient construction practices. Assurant has a meteorologist on our claims and operations team who visits communities after catastrophes, such as hurricanes and flooding, to learn about the disaster's impact on local communities. These learnings are communicated to regulators and other decision-makers, as well as the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), to influence future building codes, laws and regulations to support climate-resilient communities and avoid future losses. We also work closely with state and local insurance departments to promote fair assessments of building construction that actively mitigate their properties' climate change risks. 

In addition, we offer policies that have an impact on whether people build in high-risk areas, such as a flood-plain or other catastrophe-prone areas. We believe that by pricing insurance policies to include the cost of climate-related impacts, we can reduce risk behavior, influencing the market and reducing our and our partners' risk. For example, we offer insurance policies that incentivize lower risk behaviors, like adopting climate resilient construction practices.  

We also work with non-profits (trade and professional organizations) to bolster understanding of the climate change issues impacting our business. Our employees serve on committees of the American Property Casualty Industry Association (APCIA), the Life Insurance Council of New York, Inc, (LICONY), the Housing Policy Council and IBHS. Our company's membership in these organizations provide financial support that both advances research to better fortify homes and funds public policy forums to educate the public about property mitigation and resiliency.

Does your organization have a public commitment or position statement to conduct your engagement activities in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement?[…]No, and we do not plan to have one in the next two years