Radar and Alert warning systems for natural hazards
With Radar, available for free on a customer’s mobile device, Desjardins Insurance provides personalised weather alerts, not just based on a regional forecast, but to inform customers about a major weather event expected at a specific address.
Alert is a prevention programme for the company’s home insurance policyholders. It comes with a free water and freeze detector, providing smartphone alert to help customers act fast and limit the damage caused by water leaks and freezing pipes.
Ajusto telematics app for safe driving
The company’s Ajusto telematics app enables personalised driver scores to incentivise safe driving, including relating to cell phone distractions, speed, fast acceleration and hard braking. Based on their driving habits, customers could get savings of up to 25% on car insurance premiums. The app delivers a co-benefit in that reduced acceleration and braking saves gas and therefore, carbon emission reductions in the case of combustion engine vehicles.
Low carbon and fossil fuel-free ETFs
With the Desjardins low-CO2 ETFs, investors can choose portfolios that are intended to notably lower their carbon footprints compared to traditional stock indices—these ETFs exclude the companies with the highest carbon intensities.
Additionally, Desjardins RI Global Multifactor Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF gives investors the opportunity to invest with zero exposure to the traditional energy sector (coal, gas, oil). The fund excludes all companies in the fossil energy sector, or that hold fossil fuel reserves. It also excludes companies with a sizable portion of their revenue deriving from the fossil fuels industry, or from electricity generated by thermal coal.
SocieTerra mutual funds
When developing Desjardins SocieTerra Funds, the selected companies are subject to a rigorous review of their ESG (environmental, social and governance) practices and an in-depth financial analysis. In addition, producers and specialised transporters of fossil fuels, and companies in the civilian firearms, nuclear energy and tobacco industries are excluded from the outset. Once a company is selected, Desjardins maintains a relationship and takes various steps to ensure ongoing engagement. A range of 16 SocieTerra Funds and Portfolios are available to members and clients to fit different investor profiles.
