Archive

  • Will insurers keep up with the Jones?

    20 August 2018

    California's Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has been threatened with US lawsuits for his efforts to act on climate-related risks. Undeterred, he hopes his work can now drive international action, he tells Michael Hurley

  • Impact investing or impact washing?

    19 June 2018

    Insurers say they can find financial value in ESG investing, but they have to be wise to investments that don't deliver on their stated goals. And while ESG can mean different things to different stakeholders, a push for standardisation is not always welcome, according to panellists at Insurance Asset Risk's 2018 EMEA conference. Vincent Huck reports

  • World's top insurers stalling on climate change drive

    25 May 2018

    While insurers are increasingly aware of environmental risks which might impact both sides of their balance sheet, new research has found that their investment strategies are not in line with the Paris Agreement. The research was published the same week Royal Dutch Shell held its AGM and shareholders, including some large insurers, were asked to vote on a climate resolution. Did they stand up to the test? Paul Walsh and Vincent Huck report

  • The beginning of the end for coal investment and underwriting

    30 April 2018

    Insurers have made efforts to disengage themselves from the coal industry on both sides of the balance sheet, but climate activists say they could do more. Cintia Cheong and Nick Roumpis examine the latest developments

  • Q&A with Christian Thimann, a leading light in sustainable finance

    09 February 2018

    The chair of HLEG and vice-chair of the TCFD shares his views on the reports' key findings and their implications for the insurance sector.

  • The difficulties of modelling climate catastrophes

    08 January 2018

    Further work is required to advance the tricky task of incorporating climate change into natural catastrophe modelling, finds Nick Roumpis

  • More corporates seek shelter from the weather

    03 January 2018

    The weather risk management business is in good health and poised for further growth, leading market participants tell Graham Cooper

  • Cat risk: A test of resilience

    03 January 2018

    A spate of natural catastophes triggered payouts in the cat bond market, but this year's winners remain bullish, finds Peter Cripps

  • Global Coal Exit List: How investors can bolster coal divestment

    08 December 2017

    In recent months, more banks and investors have committed to reduce their coal exposure. While this is a laudable step, research finds that the new coal policies have important shortcomings, argues Christina Beberdick

  • Insurers reach 'tipping point' on climate change

    29 November 2017

    Concerns about climate change are influencing the underwriting and investment policies of a growing number of insurance companies, finds Graham Cooper