The Principal Financial Group® has been recognized as a leader among S&P 500 companies by environmental nonprofit CDP for its actions to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the business risks of climate change. CDP, the world’s only global environmental disclosure system, is announcing the achievement in the CDP S&P 500 Climate Change Report 2014, which presents new analysis linking S&P 500 industry leaders with financial outperformance.

This is the second year in a row The Principal® has earned a spot on the CDP Climate Performance Leadership Index (CPLI). The Principal has also been named to the CDP Climate Disclosure Index (CDLI). The indices highlight S&P 500 companies committed to improving their impact on the environment.

The Principal is one of only 34 companies named to the CPLI, making the A band. Achieving an “A band” for climate performance is a prerequisite for a position on the CPLI, which is based on a number of criteria associated with measuring, verifying and managing carbon footprints.

This is first year The Principal has been named to the CDLI; earning a score of 99 out of 100 for the completeness and quality of data. A total of 63 S&P 500 companies earned a spot on this list.

CDP (formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project) is a non-profit organization that works with investors globally to advance the investment opportunities and reduce the risks posed by climate change. CDP asks thousands of the world’s companies to provide information at the request of 767 investors, representing more than $92 trillion in assets, through CDP’s climate change program.

“We’ve set ambitious goals to reduce our carbon footprint and we continue on a path to exceed these goals,” said Jed Fisk, vice president of corporate real estate at The Principal. “Our campus renovations are a large component of this. We’ve committed to recycling more than 90 percent of demolition waste, and our HVAC and lighting changes will really contribute to energy savings. We’re proving that we’re truly committed to being a responsible corporate citizen.”

“Global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, and we face steep financial risk if we do not mitigate them. The business case for action to reduce climate change has never been stronger or more urgent,” said Paul Simpson, Chief Executive Officer of CDP. “For this reason we congratulate those businesses that have achieved a position on CDP’s S&P 500 Climate Performance Leadership Index. These companies are responding to market demand for environmental accountability and at the same time are making progress towards the realization of sustainable economies.”

The CDP S&P 500 Climate Change Report 2014, and a full list of companies featured in the S&P 500 CPLI, can be found at www.cdp.net.

About the Principal Financial Group
The Principal Financial Group® (The Principal®)1 is a global investment management leader offering retirement services, insurance solutions and asset management. The Principal offers businesses, individuals and institutional clients a wide range of financial products and services, including retirement, asset management and insurance through its diverse family of financial services companies. Founded in 1879 and a member of the FORTUNE 500®, the Principal Financial Group has $517.9 billion in assets under management2 and serves some 19.4 million customers worldwide from offices in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and the United States. Principal Financial Group, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PFG. For more information, visit www.principal.com.

About CDP
CDP is an international, not-for-profit organization providing the only global system for companies and cities to measure, disclose, manage and share vital environmental information. CDP works with market forces, including 767 institutional investors with assets of US$92 trillion, to motivate companies to disclose their impacts on the environment and natural resources and take action to reduce them. CDP now holds the largest collection globally of primary climate-change, water and forest risk commodities information and puts these insights at the heart of strategic business, investment and policy decisions.

Please visit www.cdp.net or follow us @CDP to find out more.

1 “The Principal Financial Group” and “The Principal” are registered service marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a member of the Principal Financial Group.
2 As of June 30, 2014.