Aviva sticks to climate goals amid backlash over net zero

Aviva's chief executive, Amanda Blanc, has reiterated the insurer's commitment to climate goals in the face of growing pushback against net-zero ambitions in the US and UK.

- Kalyeena Makortoff

Yesterday Aviva's shares hit their highest level since the 2008 financial crisis, with investors cheering a rise in profits, and fresh payouts for investors worth 13.1p a share.

Blanc told journalists that the insurer was not wavering on climate transition plans, which she said were an important step in responding to a rise in extreme weather events affecting its insurance business.

"We remain committed to our ambition," she said yesterday. "It's also an important priority for many of our clients, but I would always put this into the context of extreme weather conditions, climate change and the impact that that has on our insurance business that actually insures properties."