Reinsurance News
Climate change news
News on climate change and how it affects the global insurance and reinsurance industry.
Insurers join with UK regulators to address financial risks of climate change
13th March 2019
Several insurers joined the UK’s Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) last week to develop responses to the financial risks of climate change at the first meeting of the Climate Financial Risk Forum (CFRF). Representatives from Aviva, Legal & General, Lloyd’s of London, RSA Insurance Group, and Zurich ... Read the full article
Large California wildfires could now occur in any year, finds study
5th March 2019
Large wildfires similar to those seen in 2018 could now occur in any year, regardless of how wet the previous winter was, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study concluded that increased temperatures due to climate change and more effective efforts ... Read the full article
Re/insurers need to address gradual, regional impacts of global warming: Jeworrek, Munich Re
1st March 2019
It's neither possible or wise for insurers and reinsurers to speculate and make price changes in models to account for global warming that people think will occur in two decades time, according to Torsten Jeworrek, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Reinsurance, Munich Re. In light of increased catastrophe losses in both ... Read the full article
TransRe reduced cat exposure due to climate concerns: Alleghany CEO Hicks
22nd February 2019
Weston Hicks, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Alleghany Corporation, has said that the firm's reinsurance arm, Transatlantic Reinsurance Company (TransRe), has reduced its catastrophe exposure in response to concerns about growing climate risks and other adverse market conditions. In a letter to shareholders, Hicks addressed the challenge of writing catastrophe business ... Read the full article
U.S hit by 14 billion dollar nat cats in 2018: NOAA
7th February 2019
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released data showing the U.S experienced 14 natural catastrophes each causing over $1 billion in damages in 2018; both the number of events and their cumulative cost ranked fourth highest since records began in 1980. Hurricane Michael topped the list, inflicting over $25 ... Read the full article
Pricing insufficient to account for climate and higher cats: Wallin, Hannover Re
6th February 2019
Ulrich Wallin, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of reinsurance giant Hannover Re, has underlined the fact that climate change is not included within current catastrophe pricing, adding that pricing is not sufficient to deal with increased catastrophe losses. Hannover Re recently announced a solid January renewals season, which, keeps the ... Read the full article
Public-private partnerships urgently needed to build climate resilience: Swiss Re
30th January 2019
Further cooperation is urgently needed between the public and private sectors in order build global resilience to climate change and the growing threat of natural catastrophes, according to reinsurance giant Swiss Re. Reporting from the World Economic Forum 2019 event in Davos, Switzerland, Swiss Re said that public-private partnerships, such as ... Read the full article
Re/insurers should consider rewarding climate resilience efforts: Aon
23rd January 2019
Insurers and reinsurers should consider responding to climate change risks by rewarding corporate resilience efforts with premium discounts or access to additional capital, according to Aon. The broker noted in its latest Weather, Climate & Catastrophe Insight report that recent trends in natural disaster activity are putting increasing pressure on re/insurers ... Read the full article
Allianz, AXA & Swiss Re among brands most praised for climate actions
21st January 2019
Re/insurers Allianz, AXA and Swiss Re are among the top five companies to receive the praise from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in 2018 due to their actions on climate change. Data compiled by research consultancy SIGWATCH shows that the trio of re/insurers overtook global brands such as McDonald’s, Aldi and H&M as ... Read the full article
Rising sea levels a manageable concern for re/insurers, says climate expert
15th January 2019
Sea level rise over the 21st century will not be as severe as many climate models have predicted and should not present a major issue for re/insurers provided it is managed appropriately, according to Dr. Judith Curry, President of Climate Forecast Applications Network and Professor Emeritus, Georgia Institute of Technology. Curry ... Read the full article
Ten re/insurers rule out support for Australian coal mine following climate campaign
20th December 2018
Ten of the world’s largest insurers and reinsurers will not provide support for the development of Adani Group’s Carmichael coal mine in Queensland, Australia, following a campaign by 73 prominent environmental organisations. The organisations, which collectively represent 76 million members, penned a letter to 30 global re/insurance companies earlier this ... Read the full article
ClimateWise Principles revised to better align with TCFD recommendations
19th December 2018
The ClimateWise Principles, which aim to help re/insurers disclose their response to climate change, have been revised to better align with recommendations set out by the Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). The alignment has been called an important milestone for enabling the insurance industry to proactively lead and support the ... Read the full article
PRA’s climate change plan may conflict with shareholder expectations: Moody’s
17th December 2018
A recent consultation paper on climate change published by the UK’s Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) is likely to enhance the long-term risk management of re/insurers, but may conflict with the near-term expectations of shareholders, according to Moody’s. Moody’s said that, if implemented, it expects the PRA’s proposed standard to improve ... Read the full article
Vulnerable countries push re/insurance agenda at COP24 climate event
11th December 2018
Representatives of some of the world’s most vulnerable countries have used the ongoing 24th Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP24) in Katowice, Poland to push for a broader climate and disaster risk financing and re/insurance agenda. Members of the Vulnerable Twenty (V20) group, which represents 48 of the world's most ... Read the full article
AXA XL division to adopt AXA Group’s climate strategy
29th November 2018
AXA Group has announced that its sustainability and climate strategy will be extended to AXA XL, the division that was established following the acquisition of XL Group. The move will see AXA XL, which focuses on large property and casualty (P&C) Commercial Lines, implement the Group’s Corporate Responsibility policies, including those ... Read the full article