Climate Change and Its Impact on Insurance
Climate change is an important environmental issue that is reshaping the global economy and affects every individual, community and industry.
As things like natural disasters intensify, industries that once operated on relatively stable assumptions have now been forced to rethink their models, strategies and products.
And among the most impacted is the insurance industry, which is tasked with assessing and managing risk in an increasingly unpredictable world.
5 ways climate change is impacting insurance
For the insurance sector, climate change is not just a theoretical or academic problem. It directly affects the industry’s core functions – risk assessment, pricing and product development.
Natural disasters are now more common and severe, resulting in larger and more frequent insurance payouts. Severe weather in Canada alone caused over $3.1 billion in insured damage in 2023.
The industry must adapt to this new reality, rethinking traditional risk models and developing innovative solutions to protect both the insurers and the insured.
1. New Risk Models
The foundation of insurance is risk assessment. The nature of this assessment is now being forced to develop given the onset of climate change.
Traditional risk models are being challenged
For decades, insurers have relied on historical data to predict the likelihood of various events and price their products accordingly. However, with the accelerating effects of climate change, past trends are no longer reliable predictors of future risks.
Insurers now face a landscape where extreme weather events – floods, hurricanes, droughts, wildfires – are occurring with increasing frequency and intensity and in areas less prone to disasters historically.
The evolution of specific climate change risks
Insurers are now updating risk models to account for the emerging realities of climate change. For example, areas once considered low-risk for floods may now face regular inundation due to rising sea levels, more frequent storms and other geological phenomena.
Likewise, regions that previously did not experience wildfires are now on the front lines of escalating fire seasons.
Using technology to develop accurate risk models
To better assess these risks, insurers are turning to advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and big data.
AI can process vast amounts of climate data from a variety of sources – weather stations, satellites, and historical records – and use machine learning algorithms to identify patterns and predict future events.
Big data also plays a crucial role in improving risk assessment. Insurers can now collect real-time information on weather patterns, temperature fluctuations and other climate indicators, allowing them to adjust policies and pricing dynamically.
This is particularly important in regions where climate conditions are changing rapidly, such as developed coastal areas vulnerable to rising sea levels or areas prone to more intense storms and hurricanes.
New solutions built on technologies such as big data and the Internet of Things can help insurers capture data such as real-time weather and disaster data in order to mitigate risks and develop accurate predictive modelling.
2. Pricing Strategies
As climate risks increase, so too does the cost of insurance. Insurers are adjusting their pricing strategies to reflect the heightened risk posed by climate change – particularly in high-risk areas such as coastal zones, floodplains, and regions prone to wildfires.
These adjustments are necessary to ensure that insurers can cover the growing number of claims resulting from climate-related disasters while maintaining profitability.
Insurers are adjusting premiums in high-risk areas
In high-risk areas, premiums have risen significantly in recent years. For example, residents of Alberta and Nova Scotia are experiencing significantly higher costs of home insurance due to the rising risk of fire-related losses.
And in the United States, homeowners in parts of Florida, a state frequently hit by hurricanes, have seen substantial increases in their insurance premiums as insurers account for the growing likelihood of storm damage.
How reinsurance is managing climate-related risks
The role of reinsurance in managing climate-related risks cannot be overstated. Reinsurers provide financial backing to primary insurers, helping them cover catastrophic losses. However, as the frequency and severity of climate-related disasters increase, reinsurance costs have also risen significantly.
This, in turn, impacts the pricing of primary insurance products. As reinsurers adjust their models and pricing to reflect climate risks, primary insurers must pass these costs onto policyholders in the form of higher premiums.
In some cases, insurers are also exploring differentiated pricing strategies based on policyholder actions. For example, homeowners who invest in climate-resilient infrastructure – such as elevated homes in flood-prone areas or fire-resistant materials in wildfire zones – may receive lower premiums as a reward for reducing their risk exposure.
This shift toward risk-based pricing incentivizes customers to take proactive measures to protect their properties from climate-related threats, ultimately benefiting both insurers and policyholders.
3. Specialized Insurance Products
As climate change reshapes the risk landscape, insurers are developing specialized products to meet the unique needs of customers in vulnerable areas.
Traditional insurance policies may not provide adequate coverage for the specific risks posed by climate change, such as flooding, wildfires and extreme heat. To fill this gap, insurers are introducing new products tailored to these emerging threats.
Flood insurance
One of the most notable examples is “flood insurance”. In Canada, standard homeowners’ insurance policies generally do not cover flood damage. As flooding becomes more frequent and severe, particularly in coastal areas and floodplains, demand for specialized flood insurance products has surged.
Governments and private insurers are working together to provide affordable flood insurance solutions. Canada’s federal government is planning a national flood insurance program, setting $15 million aside to do so in the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
Wildlife insurance
Another area of innovation is “wildfire insurance”. In regions like California, where wildfires have become more frequent and destructive, some insurers are offering specialized coverage for fire-related losses.
Parametric insurance
“Parametric insurance” is another innovative solution gaining traction in the face of climate change.
Unlike traditional insurance, which requires a lengthy claims process to assess damages, parametric insurance provides quick payouts based on predefined triggers, such as a specific amount of rainfall, wind speed or earthquake magnitude.
This type of insurance is particularly useful for businesses and governments that need immediate financial relief after a climate-related disaster.
Example: One case study highlighting the effectiveness of parametric insurance is the African Risk Capacity (ARC) initiative. ARC provides parametric insurance to African countries vulnerable to droughts and floods. When a drought or flood exceeds certain thresholds, ARC triggers payouts to help governments fund emergency relief efforts without waiting for lengthy damage assessments.
This approach has proven crucial in providing timely support to affected communities, demonstrating the potential of parametric insurance in a climate-affected world.
4. Regulatory and Policy Changes
As climate change becomes an increasingly urgent issue, governments and international bodies are implementing regulatory changes that affect the insurance industry. These changes are designed to ensure that insurers remain financially stable while encouraging them to play a proactive role in addressing climate risks.
One of the most significant international agreements influencing the insurance sector is the “Paris Agreement”. This accord, signed by nearly 200 countries, aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
While the Paris Agreement primarily focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, it also has implications for the insurance industry. For example, insurers are under increasing pressure to align their portfolios with the transition to a low-carbon economy and work towards net zero.
In addition to international agreements, many governments are implementing regulations that require insurers to disclose their exposure to climate risks. For instance, the European Union’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) mandates that financial institutions, including insurers, provide transparent information on how they incorporate sustainability risks into their investment and underwriting decisions.
This move toward greater transparency encourages insurers to assess and mitigate climate risks proactively, both in their underwriting practices and investment strategies.
5. Consumer Awareness and Behaviour
As climate change becomes more visible in daily life, consumer behaviour is shifting.
Unfortunately, many homeowners are opting to reduce their cover or cancel their insurance policies because of the rising costs of premiums. However, people are recognizing the need for insurance products that protect against climate-related risks, leading to changes in purchasing decisions.
Educating consumers about the importance of climate-related insurance is essential for building resilience. A 2019 analysis from the University of Waterloo commented that a:
… major barrier to behaviour change is the issue of awareness – wherein most policyholders lack awareness or knowledge of how their actions can lead to lower premiums. It seems that most insurers have not maximized their marketing or awareness raising campaigns on how green behaviour might be more beneficial to the customer in certain contexts.
The study recommends risk communication through mass media campaigns and compulsory information disclosures for properties. It argues that these kinds of measures:
… make policyholders more aware about their personal risks and the benefits of having insurance or risk reduction measures in place.
Insurers are taking a more active role in helping policyholders understand the risks they face and the insurance options available to them. This includes providing tools and resources that allow customers to assess their climate exposure and take steps to mitigate risks, such as upgrading properties to withstand storms or wildfires.
For insurers, the importance of engaging with customers in high-risk areas cannot be understated. This engagement goes beyond selling policies—it involves helping policyholders become more resilient.
Challenges and Opportunities
While the industry has been increasingly flexible in light of climate change, there are still significant challenges on the horizon.
This has mainly included the unpredictability of extreme weather events and the rising cost of claims. Insurers must strike a delicate balance between maintaining financial stability and providing affordable coverage to customers, particularly in high-risk areas where premiums are rising.
However, these challenges also present opportunities for innovation and growth. Insurers that embrace new technologies, develop specialized products and engage with customers on climate resilience will be better positioned to thrive in a changing environment.
Insurers now have the chance to lead the discussion and the industry in sustainability by aligning their investment portfolios with the transition to a low-carbon economy and collaborating with policymakers to promote climate-friendly policies.
Looking ahead, the future of insurance in a changing climate will likely involve greater reliance on predictive analytics, closer collaboration between insurers and governments and an increased focus on sustainability. The insurance industry is uniquely positioned to play a critical role in addressing climate risks and helping communities adapt to the challenges ahead.
Concluding comments
Climate change is reshaping the insurance industry, presenting both challenges and opportunities.
Insurers must continue to update their risk models, adjust pricing strategies, and develop new products to meet the evolving needs of customers in a climate-affected world.
As the impacts of climate change become more pronounced, the insurance industry must remain at the forefront of adaptation and innovation.
Collaboration with policymakers, engagement with consumers, and a commitment to sustainability will be key to building resilience in the face of increasing climate risks.
The time for action is now, and the insurance industry has a critical role to play in shaping that future.