Page 15 - Turkinsurance Digital Magazine

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Joint project by AXA Sigorta, Active Living Association and WWF-Turkey:
Be Active for the World

AXA Sigorta supports fight against climate change with the us to change our living habits
“Earth-Friendly Insurance” approach; and in this respect, with a rational perspective.
they announced a new project called “Be Active for the The target of our ‘Be Active
World”, which focuses on people’s health and physical activi- for the World’ project is to
ty. Carried out in coordination with Active Living Association attract attention to the dan-
and WWF-Turkey (World Wildlife Foundation), the project ger world resources are fac-
emphasizes that the value created by a more active lifestyle ing and the fact that people
for human health could be created for the world’s immune can create a value by being
system in terms of global warming and climate crisis. more active, while increas-
ing their awareness about the
Based on a research measuring the current situation and per- carbon footprint they leave
ception about physical activity, health and climate change, with every action. Our re-
which was conducted by ADHOC and İstanbulON Urban Mo- search indicates that a more
bility Lab ITU across Turkey, the project focuses on creating active lifestyle is regarded as
value in two points: Ensuring that leading a more active life a luxury by our society and
is included among the options towards reducing our carbon that 2/3rd of our society does
footprint at a time when it is essential to do so, and reducing not get the required level of
the negative impacts of an inactive lifestyle on human health, physical activity.
and the unmanageable risks, costs and environmental impacts
it will create on the health system. However, it is estimated that illnesses arising from inaction
cause an impact of over 7 billion TL on Turkish health system
Ultimate target of the project is to initially increase our social and social security. Carbon footprint of living an unknowingly
awareness, and to encourage individuals to be more active; unhealthy, or in other words, an inactive life is 17.8 million
and therefore reduce their carbon footprint and get them to tons a year. Leading a more active life means reducing the
live a healthier life. The project was announced via an online health expenses and also carbon footprint. It is possible to
press conference on June 4, attended by Yavuz Ölken, CEO of reduce our carbon footprint we cause by being more careful
AXA Sigorta; Şule Serter, Assistant Chairman of Active Liv- about consuming world’s resources, to reduce the cost and
ing Association; and Aslı Pasinli, CEO of WWF-Turkey. The carbon footprint on the health system due to illnesses caused
meeting was also attended by hundreds of AXA Sigorta agents by inactivity, and therefore to turn our footprint on the world
who support the company within the scope of “Earth-Friendly into a proud-print if we are more active and if we use our own
Agency” program. energy more.

78.7% of the people believe that they We can reduce our carbon footprint by 50 percent if we walk
or ride a bicycle for short distance transportation or for fun
would be more physically active if it and spare time activity. Limiting our vehicle usage to twice
would make a difference for climate or three times a week and taking more number of steps might
result in turning carbon emission levels back to the levels be-
change fore 1990; while using bicycle regularly reduces the risk of
illnesses causing death in adults by 28 percent. Good news
Stating that creating value for social life and environment from our research is that 78.7 percent of the people say that
is of strategic importance for AXA Sigorta, in addition to they will be more active if it will make a difference about
developing innovative insurance solutions, Yavuz Ölken, CEO climate change.
of AXA Sigorta, said: “Global warming and climate change
which are threatening the immunity of our world are listed as And we hope to make a contribution to fight against climate
the top risk in AXA Future Risks Report for four years in a change through the activities we will carry out within the
row. However, due to the connectivity of those risks with each scope of our project in the future by setting our ecosystem in
other, they are directly or indirectly causing other risks such motion. We are happy to be working with our business part-
as epidemics and geopolitical instability. ners that will support us with their expertise in this project,
Active Living Assocation and WWF-Turkey (World Wildlife
At this point, reducing our carbon footprint that we cause Fund). We have always been and will continue to be inspired
as humanity is a significant change factor; which requires by their work.”