KATHMANDU: MetLife, Inc has said that it will achieve carbon neutrality by the end of 2016, becoming the first US-based insurer to do so. Significantly, MetLife will achieve its goal 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, as per a press statement issued on Tuesday.

MetLife’s new commitments are becoming carbon neutral in 2016 and going forward; by 2020, reduce all energy consumption by 10 per cent from a 2012 baseline; by 2020, reduce location-based greenhouse gas emissions (metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent) by 10 per cent from a 2012 baseline; and by 2020, require 100 of MetLife’s top suppliers to publicly disclose their GHG emissions and emission-reduction activities.

MetLife has been operating in Nepal since 2001 as a branch of American Life Insurance Company, incorporated in the USA, subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.