METLIFE RECOGNIZED BY U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY FOR LEADERSHIP IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
NEW YORK, March 10, 2016
The. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) with a 2016 Climate Leadership Award for its public commitment to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The EPA presented the award this week at the fifth annual Climate Leadership Conference in Seattle.
MetLife was recognized in the EPA’s Goal Setting category for Excellence in Greenhouse Gas Management. MetLife announced last year environmental commitments to:
- Become carbon neutral across its global operations starting in 2016, becoming the first U.S. based insurer to commit to doing so.
- By 2020, reduce all energy consumption by 10 percent from a 2012 baseline.
- By 2020, reduce location-based GHG emissions by 10 percent from a 2012 baseline.
- By 2020, require MetLife’s top suppliers to publicly disclose their GHG emissions and emission-reduction activities.
Significantly, MetLife will achieve these goals through real reductions in energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, not simply through the purchase of carbon offsets. In addition, MetLife will require its top suppliers to publicly disclose their GHG emissions and mitigation efforts for the first time.
“MetLife is committed to promoting a sustainable environment for our customers, their families, and the communities we serve,” said Joe Sprouls, who oversees MetLife’s environmental initiatives as executive vice president and head of Global Corporate Services. “We are proud to be recognized for backing up that commitment with concrete goals to reduce GHG emissions.”
MetLife’s goals build on previously implemented efforts to reduce the company’s environmental impact. Its accomplishments include:
- Reduced energy consumption in U.S. company-owned offices by 25 percent from 2005-2014
- 100 percent of its company-owned offices in the U.S. are Energy Star certified and more than 50 percent are now LEED certified
- Reduced indirect greenhouse gas emissions for U.S. owned company-offices by 100 percent through energy efficiency projects and Renewable Energy Certificate purchases
- Installed 42 electric-car charging stations at MetLife facilities—available free for employees
- Working with suppliers to measure and reduce MetLife’s value-chain impact by incorporating environmental stewardship requirements into the company’s vendor management program
- $3.0 billion invested in wind and solar renewable power generation since 2003
- Equity stakes in 46 LEED-certified properties
- Ownership stakes in more than 25 wind and solar farms that produce enough clean energy to power 1 million homes
- Owner of the largest solar photovoltaic plant (solar farm) in the eastern United States
For more information on MetLife’s commitment to the environment and other corporate responsibility activities, visit www.metlifeglobalimpact.com.
About MetLife
MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), through its subsidiaries and affiliates (“MetLife”), is one of the largest life insurance companies in the world. Founded in 1868, MetLife is a global provider of life insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management. Serving approximately 100 million customers, MetLife has operations in nearly 50 countries and holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.metlife.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
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Any or all forward-looking statements may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many such factors will be important in determining the actual future results of MetLife, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates. These statements are based on current expectations and the current economic environment. They involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. These statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties, and other factors that might cause such differences include the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in MetLife, Inc.'s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K (the "Annual Report") filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed by MetLife, Inc. with the SEC after the date of the Annual Report under the captions "Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors," and other filings MetLife, Inc. makes with the SEC. MetLife, Inc. does not undertake any obligation to publicly correct or update any forward-looking statement if MetLife, Inc. later becomes aware that such statement is not likely to be achieved. Please consult any further disclosures MetLife, Inc. makes on related subjects in reports to the SEC.
The purpose of this news release is to describe the environmental goals that MetLife intends to achieve and how the company intends to achieve those goals.