ESG @ Marsh McLennan

Our ESG strategy is built on our shared Purpose and Commitments.

We have formally integrated ESG considerations into our decision-making processes since 2008 and believe that transparent and consistent disclosure enables better-informed business and investment decisions.

The Board ESG Committee oversees and supports the company’s commitment to social, environmental and other public policy initiatives. The Committee reports to the Marsh McLennan Board on a regular basis (typically at each board meeting).

The Management ESG Committee supports the Marsh McLennan Board and Executive Committee in identifying, aligning and prioritizing new and existing ESG objectives across Marsh McLennan. Members are drawn from senior management across our four global businesses and corporate departments, with our deputy general counsel, chief compliance officer and corporate secretary serving as chair.

Our Client Advisory teams support our clients in navigating complex ESG issues and in working toward their own ESG goals at all stages of their journeys.

The Sustainability team advances internal ESG priorities across Marsh McLennan, including progress against our net-zero goal.

Our commitment to ESG starts at home

We model the behaviors we want to see in the world. Strong and effective corporate governance will help promote these behaviors and protect our culture.

Our people are our greatest strength

Our company's greatest strength is the collective talent of our people. Inclusion means more than acceptance — it means belonging. Every person has a unique knowledge and experience. Individually, that makes us valuable — and together, extraordinary.

Our future requires climate resilience

Climate change is a global issue and we all have a role to play in addressing it. A low-carbon future can support a sustainable, competitive business environment, while creating new opportunities for Marsh McLennan and all of our stakeholders.

Our company plays an important role

Many issues of public importance cannot be solved without corporate leadership — from developing and supporting high quality and accessible healthcare systems to building climate resilience to addressing cyber risk to helping close the world's protection gaps. Marsh McLennan is uniquely positioned to help society take on these challenges.

Change is up to all of us

No individual, no company and no country can alone effect change. We will engage with our colleagues, our clients, our shareholders, our communities and governments around the world to take on the great challenges of our time.

Marsh McLennan commits to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain by 2050. 

Marsh McLennan commits to reducing absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse (GHG) emissions 50% by 2030 from a 2019 base year.

Marsh McLennan also commits to reducing scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from purchased goods and services, capital goods and business travel 55% per million USD of operating profit within the same timeframe.

Marsh McLennan commits to reducing absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 90% by 2050 from a 2019 base year.

Marsh McLennan also commits to reducing scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from purchased goods and services, capital goods, upstream transportation and distribution, business travel and employee commuting by 97% per million USD of operating profit within the same timeline.

Marsh McLennan does not use corporate funds for independent political expenditures in support of or opposition to any candidate for office. That prohibition also applies to payments made to trade associations. Each payment to a trade association is individually reviewed and subject to attestation, to ensure compliance with this prohibition.

Further, it is our policy that Marsh McLennan does not engage in the following kinds of political conduct:

• Paying for independent advertising or public communications that expressly support or oppose a federal political candidate

• Communicating its view on specific candidates

• Communicating a view on whether a candidate's voting record is in line with the company's view on issues

• Establishing a federal political action committee (PAC) to engage in so-called “independent expenditures”.

Marsh McLennan Political Action Committee (PAC) is a non-partisan, US federal political action committee that receives voluntary contributions from Company employees. The Company's political action committee provides the Government Relations Department with important opportunities to build relationships with federal lawmakers. The PAC does not use corporate funds to make political contributions and operates with a loyal base of voluntary support from Marsh McLennan colleagues.

Marsh McLennan PAC does not contribute PAC funds to any presidential exploratory committee or presidential campaign committee. Marsh McLennan PAC publicly discloses all contributions as required by applicable laws. Federal Election Committee filings for Marsh McLennan PAC can be found here. 

Marsh McLennan PAC is governed by an Advisory Committee, which administers the PAC’s budget over each two-year election cycle and oversees compliance with US federal election laws.

The PAC makes contributions with the approval of the Advisory Committee chairperson to federal candidates that are governed by a set of criteria and made transparent according to federal law and Company policy.

For more details, please review the PAC By-Laws here.

Marsh McLennan PAC contributes to candidates for federal office who:

• Support Marsh McLennan’s business interests and those of our clients.

• Serve on committees with jurisdiction over policies that are core to our interests.

• Serve in districts or states where our colleagues live and work, and

• Align with our Company's values as outlined in Marsh McLennan's Code of Conduct. 

Marsh McLennan actively engages public officials at the federal and state levels on issues that impact our colleagues, businesses and clients. Marsh McLennan also retains outside consultants and lobbyists to advocate on our behalf.

In compliance with federal law, Marsh McLennan and its outside consultants file lobbying reports (LD-2) on a quarterly basis to disclose federal lobbying activities and expenses.

In addition, Marsh McLennan’s federal lobbyists are required to file semiannual LD-203 reports on any personal funds contributed to federal candidates. A separate semiannual LD-203 report is filed on behalf of Marsh McLennan, including Marsh McLennan PAC.

Sound corporate governance principles, acting with integrity and maintaining the trust of our shareholders are among our most important values and practices at Marsh McLennan.

Key guidance includes:

• Tax Strategy
• Annual Reports + Proxy Statements
• Lobbying Disclosure, Office of the Clerk (house.gov)
• Transparency Register (europa.eu)

Find additional corporate governance guidelines, bylaws and charters here.