Tower pledges support to Bachelor of Climate Change
Tower has been supporting Kiwis with insurance for 150 years, providing customers with cover for their houses, cars, contents, businesses and more.
In 2021 Tower pledged $45,000 over three years to support students in a world-first Bachelor of Climate Change degree at the University of Waikato, becoming the first corporate supporter of scholarships for the degree.
The three-year Bachelor of Climate Change offers a unique combination of scientific knowledge, socioeconomic understanding, and cultural diversity of climate change issues. Students will not only learn from expert researchers at the University, but also get the chance to see real-world cases where climate change is impacting groups and individuals.
Tower’s contribution will help the University nurture a workforce with a comprehensive understanding of climate change to lead New Zealand’s transformation towards a zero-emissions society.
Our research and data tell us the frequency and severity of floods and storms has increased, and the cost of insurance over the past 10 years has reached $1.4 billion – the equivalent to the previous 45 years, even after adjusting for inflation,” says Tower’s Chief Executive Officer Blair Turnbull.
As part of our focus on a sustainable future, we are looking to partner with like-minded businesses and universities to better understand climate change, and to help support plans and actions for our customers, communities and councils to mitigate the impact. We are delighted to be the first corporate supporter for the University of Waikato’s Bachelor of Climate Change degree, and to support the next generation of climate change thought-leaders. It is through research, innovation and education that we will move towards the solutions needed.
Tower’s partnership with the University involves three scholarships for first-year students worth $5,000 each year for three years. The three-year agreement means a total of nine first-year Bachelor of Climate Change students will receive a helping hand. Scholarship winners could also get the chance to see first-hand the work the Kiwi insurer is undertaking on key initiatives around coastal flooding and erosion, and potentially gain an internship with Tower.