Home > Marsh and Mercer ignoring staff wishes by continuing Adani coal work

Marsh and Mercer ignoring staff wishes by continuing Adani coal work

27 April 2020

Insurance broker Marsh has been working with the conglomerate Adani for several years, most recently searching the globe for insurance companies willing to cover the Adani Carmichael coal project construction and operation.

With 16 major insurers refusing to insure the massive new thermal coal project, the going hasn’t been easy for Marsh, and now it is clear that its own staff are unhappy with Marsh taking on such a controversial client.

“I am disgusted to find out my company supports Adani”
Marsh/Mercer employee

Preliminary results from Market Forces’ survey of Marsh and Mercer (another brand that’s part of the same company as Marsh) staff* shows a huge majority want to see Marsh dump not only Adani and the Carmichael project, but phase out brokering insurance for all fossil fuel projects and companies.

Preliminary results:

1. Were you aware that Marsh brokers the underwriting of coal, oil and gas expansion projects?

56% No
44% Yes

2. Do you believe that it is in the insurance industry’s and therefore Marsh’s best interest to limit climate change as much as possible?

83% Yes
13% No
4% Unsure

3. Since December 2018, sixteen major insurance companies have publicly ruled out underwriting the Adani Carmichael coal project in Queensland. Do you agree that Marsh should join these companies by ending its brokerage services for the Adani Carmichael coal mine/rail/port project?

87% Yes
13% No

4. Would you like to see Marsh phase out the brokering of insurance for fossil fuel projects and companies?

84% Yes
16% No

5. Would you like to see Marsh stop bundling coal and non-coal business, to make it easier for insurance companies to follow through with their ban on coal?

87% Yes
13% No

Comments from Marsh and Mercer employees

“Do right by my Grandchildren PLEASE”

“Marsh must not endorse these companies, ESPECIALLY Adani. NO amount of money is worth destroying the planet. This must end now.”

“All companies should act ethically towards its employees by not destroying directly or indirectly the planet.”

“I what to thank the people who were handing out the flyers [#StopAdani campaign volunteers]. They were very gentle in their approach and the work you are all doing is wonderful.”

“I really hope we are successful in moving away from Adani and such harmful industries.”

“Senior management seem to have a poor understanding of climate change”

“Our CEO talked about this in a meeting with his staff. It was clear he didn’t understand the situation or climate change. He also was dismissive of renewable energy. Marsh have renewable clients so this was disappointing.”

Take action

Contact all the insurance companies (including Marsh) that have so far refused to rule out insuring Adani by filling out the action form below.

Name*
First Name Last Name
Email Address*
Post Code*
Country
Country
Subject (you can edit this)
Your message (you can personalise and amend this, your name will be automatically added at the end)*
Re: Adani Carmichael coal project I am very concerned that you will work to support Adani's mining and exporting coal from the Galilee Basin in Queensland, Australia. I want you to confirm to me personally, and announce publicly, that you will not be involved in any part of the disastrous Adani Carmichael project or provide any underwriting or investment support for the Adani group of companies more generally. The Indian conglomerate Adani's Carmichael coal mine is arguably the most environmentally and socially contentious project in Australia's history, the object of years-long international controversy. It would have dire consequences for the climate, with coal burned over its lifetime equivalent to eight years of Australia’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. The fact that it is acting as a gateway project, opening up an entirely new thermal coal basin containing billions of tonnes of coal makes its potential climate impact even greater. It would increase shipping and industrial activity in the already stressed Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. And the Traditional Owners of the land on which the mine is being dug, the Wangan and Jagalingou, continue to oppose the project's right to their lands. Adani itself is a company with a checkered history, having being fined for lying to the Queensland environmental regulator over land-clearing activities on the Carmichael mine site. Any company associated with this climate-wrecking project faces massive reputational risks. Over 110 global financial institutions, including 44 insurers, have publicly declared that they will not support the project. I call on your company to rule out any insurance services for all aspects of the Carmichael coal mine and rail line and NQXT coal port in Queensland, Australia, and furthermore exclude the Adani group as a whole until the Carmichael project is cancelled. I expect your prompt reply to unequivocally rule out any involvement by your company in any part of the Adani Carmichael coal project.
- I want to get updates about this campaign from Market Forces!
Name
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

* Marsh and Mercer staff have been invited to do the survey via leafletting outside offices (pre-COVID19) and via LinkedIn. If you are a Marsh or Mercer staff member, you can do the survey here.