15-01-2022 - Our Impact24 strategy is designed to respond to a world that moves quickly. In the few short months since the announcement of our plan, the world already threw up new challenges, some anticipated, others designed to keep us on our toes.
1) The Covid pandemic was clearly here to stay for a while At times the Covid pandemic showed signs of abating, only to return with a vengeance. It brought with it clear evidence of inequality whether that be at the rate of economic recovery or the status of healthcare.
2) The global economy recovered more quickly and strongly than expected
But here again the story played out at a different pace market to market. And the lack of raw materials, transport, finished goods and even skilled employees put a break on the economy’s rehabilitation.
3) There was a lot of talk about the rising challenge of climate change, becoming ever more tangible
We experienced at first hand the reality of climate change, through the devastating impact of the floods in Europe, particularly in Belgium and the UK. The topics of sustainability, the climate and good governance continues to dominate the societal debate, elevated by COP26 which created a real sense of urgency. It led to agreements on several topics, but also highlighted gaps still to be filled. The insurance sector and Ageas can play an important role at different levels. One is helping communities to understand, prepare for and reduce climate risks.
The Impact24 strategy assumes the world will continue to move quickly, and we need to stay agile and flexible in response to stay relevant long term. And that is the aim. We have defined clear targets and plans, with a focus on action, not just pledges.
Making an impact is also about doing things the right way. Impact24 puts sustainability considerations at the heart of our decision-making to innovate, understand risk, drive growth, and build a more inclusive and sustainable future.
Within Ageas we are also permanently scanning the horizon for trends and evolutions that change our world and impact our activities so we can be prepared. Many high-impact trends of this year’s Horizon Scan are topics that are already high on the agenda of Impact24, such as:
To ensure long-term sustainable growth, the Horizon Scan results will continue to feed the Group’s strategic action plans and the local business plans.
Would you like to know more about our approach to sustainability and to long-term thinking? Listen to our podcasts!