UK government-backed terrorism reinsurer Pool Re has partnered with global terrorism pools forum IFTRIP and the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) to explore the impact of climate change on terrorism.
Together, the trio will produce a series of rapid reports underlining the impact that climate change is having on the drivers of terrorism, examining both the current and contemporary threats and global regional outlooks.
Terrorism poses significant implications for the insurance industry, governments and others interested in the issue of resilience, and it is hoped the study will be able to provide valuable data and analytics to measure and define the likely impacts of climate change on the terrorism landscape.
The research, which will be outcome focussed, will also provide possible actions and recommendations of how to mitigate this risk.
Pool Re, IFTRIP and START anticipate that climate change will be found to interact with terrorism as an indirect contributor, as an ideological driver, and as a tool with which to control populations.
“We are delighted to partner with START, who already hold a distinguished reputation in the field of terrorism research. Pool Re is pleased to promote this as one of the initiatives to highlight and provide a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities the industry is facing,” said Julian Enoizi, Pool Re CEO and IFTRIP Secretariat.
“The threats and risks connected to climate change cannot simply be measured by natural disasters or extreme weather events. Climate change is causing poverty, destabilisation and mass migration on an unprecedented scale, all of which could lead to some serious challenges as regards terrorism if we don’t tackle climate change.”
Bill Braniff, Director of START, also commented: “Climate change will be the most impactful global issue of our time, and because negative outcomes are inevitable, it is critical that we invest now in a dedicated research agenda to help governments, the private sector and communities to direct resources effectively to treat, transfer or terminate risks.”
“This study represents a critical and pragmatic contribution focused on implications for human and economic security. In truth, we are already observing violence, criminality, and terrorism brought about directly and indirectly by climate change; this study will therefore serve as a call to action on an urgent issue.”
