Insurance

Leading insurers, ocean conservationists, Oceana and UNEP FI issue first-ever guidelines to combat pirate fishing

27 February 2019

Today, UN Environment, Oceana and leading insurers issued a checklist of warning signs for pirate fishing activity, as part of a global insurance industry effort to curb illegal fishing. The risk assessment guidelines, launched at an international conference organised by UN Environment’s Principles for Sustainable Insurance Initiative (PSI) and the global insurer Allianz, were developed […]

Give feedback on first ever global guidance for the non-life insurance industry on integrating sustainability

27 February 2019

The first ever guidance designed for the global insurance industry to integrate sustainability into industrial and commercial business has launched for public consultation today. The result of a multi-year initiative co-led by UNEP FI’s Principles for Sustainable Insurance and leading insurer, Allianz, the guide is designed to manage environmental, social and governance risks in insurance […]

Climate Success at COP24: after intense negotiations new rulebook breathes life into Paris Agreement but much more decarbonisation ambition needed

18 December 2018

  On Saturday, following two weeks marked by dramatic rhetoric and intense negotiations over legal language, close to 200 Governments bridged a deep global divide and agreed on the set of rules meant to steer countries worldwide in implementing the historic 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. UNEP FI’s Climate Lead, Remco Fischer gives more […]

UNEP FI working with 16 global insurers to better understand risk & implement TCFD recommendations

13 November 2018

UN Environment’s Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) announced today a partnership with 16 of the world’s largest insurers—representing around 10% of world premium and USD 5 trillion in assets under management—to develop a new generation of risk assessment tools designed to enable the insurance industry to better understand the impacts of climate change on their business. This understanding is vital for an industry whose core business is to manage risk.

Finance sector commits to working together to develop Sustainable Finance Roadmaps for Australia & New Zealand

24 July 2018

Finance sector commits to working together to develop Sustainable Finance Roadmaps for Australia & New Zealand Finance sector organisations – including banking, insurance and investment industries, representing over 300 institutions with $10 trillion in assets – have today released a joint statement in support of a sustainable financial system for Australia and New Zealand.

PSI / ICLEI Insurance Industry Development Goals for Cities

26 June 2018

After a year-long global consultation involving insurance industry leaders, mayors and other local government leaders, and key stakeholders, the Insurance Industry Development Goals for Cities were launched in Montréal on 22 June at the ICLEI World Congress 2018. The goals set the global agenda for the industry and cities in the context of economic, social and environmental sustainability—or sustainable development.

Brazil becomes world’s first insurance market to commit to climate risk transparency

24 May 2018

Latin America’s largest insurance market declares support for promoting dialogue on practical and effective ways to meet the recommendations of the Financial Stability Board’s Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures   Brazil has made an unprecedented commitment to climate risk transparency by becoming the first insurance market in the world to declare its commitment to […]

Take part in the first-ever global survey on underwriting environmental, social and governance risks in insurance

30 April 2018

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues—also known as sustainability issues—pose a shared risk to insurers, communities, businesses, cities, governments and society at large, providing a strong incentive for innovation and collaboration. Examples of ESG issues include natural disasters, pollution, carbon emissions, degradation of natural resources, illegal fishing and logging, child and forced labour, negative impacts […]

South Africa to host inaugural event to strengthen African insurance industry’s contribution to sustainable development

10 April 2018

Geneva/Cape Town/Johannesburg, 9 April 2018—The United Nations and Santam, South Africa’s largest general insurer, will co-host this month the first African conference of UN Environment’s Principles for Sustainable Insurance Initiative (PSI), which will focus on strengthening the industry’s ability to contribute to sustainable development across the continent. The conference, which will be held from 16 […]

New online database provides comprehensive information on climate risk insurance

5 December 2017

The Climate Insurance is the first-ever online database on climate risk and a recent collaborative effort to promote risk transfer and insurance as an approach to more effectively manage the increasing number of disasters and their impacts on vulnerable communities. The database shares the experiences of numerous international organizations in the field of risk transfer […]

European Commission Consultation on Investors’ Duties and Sustainability

14 November 2017

On 13 November 2017, the European Commission launched a public consultation on Institutional investors and asset managers’ duties regarding sustainability. Running until 22 January 2018, the consultation seeks evidence on: How clarifications or amendments to investor duties can contribute to more efficient allocation of capital and to more sustainable and inclusive growth; How to ensure […]

Blog: Sustainable Insurance Thinking and Practices are Converging – Summary of Latest Actions by Insurers, Regulators, and Policymakers

8 November 2017

As world leaders, business and civil society come together in Bonn for the 2017 UN Climate Change Conference (COP23)—which is the next step to implement the Paris Agreement on Climate Change—important developments are taking place within the global insurance industry and insurance regulatory and supervisory community to support the transformation to a resilient, inclusive and […]

Zurich Insurance Group joins as PSI signatory and UNEP FI member

27 October 2017

  27 October, 2017 UNEP FI is very pleased to welcome leading commercial insurer Zurich Insurance Group as a signatory to the Principles for Sustainable Insurance, and a member of UNEP FI. Group Chief Executive Officer Mario Greco said, “At Zurich, we are proud of the steps we have taken to incorporate environment, social and […]

Global insurers unite to cut financial lifeline to pirate fishing

6 October 2017

06 October 2017 Leading insurers from around the world have committed to take action on pirate fishing, an unlawful practice that costs the global economy tens of billions of dollars in losses every year and contributes to overfishing and the destruction of vital marine habitats and ecosystems. Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, AXA, Generali, Hanseatic […]

United Nations and world’s microinsurance community unite to achieve sustainable development that leaves no one behind

1 September 2017

31 August, 2017 An unprecedented global partnership has been forged to promote inclusive and sustainable insurance markets around the world and to help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. UN Environment Finance Initiative’s Principles for Sustainable Insurance Initiative and the Microinsurance Network join forces to help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Microinsurance Network, the […]

New Report – Sustainable Insurance: The Emerging Agenda for Supervisors and Regulators

10 August 2017

Key sustainability factors are now recognized as potentially significant for the success, safety and soundness of the insurance sector – inspiring reactions by supervisors and regulators. As a risk manager, risk carrier and investor, the global insurance sector plays a cornerstone role in the management of sustainability-related risks and opportunities. The risk transfer tools of […]

The sustainable insurance agenda for regulators and supervisors is emerging

4 August 2017

Last June, the Bank of England, the central bank of the UK, released an article on its response to climate change, as part of its second quarter 2017 bulletin. Climate change, and society’s responses to it, present financial risks which impact upon the Bank of England’s objectives. The Bank’s response has two core elements. First, […]

Aviva endorses Positive Impact Manifesto and Principles for Positive Impact Finance

19 June 2017

UNEP FI is pleased to welcome the first insurance company and 22nd financial institution to join the Positive Impact Initiative. Aviva is the UK’s largest insurer with a long-standing tradition of engagement, including with global policy-makers, in relation to the challenge of financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “The SDGs have to become a defining element […]

Global investors support government action on tobacco control

31 May 2017

53 investors, health systems, pension funds and insurers, representing US$3.8 trillion in assets under management, have signed a statement to World Health Organization (WHO) representatives and national health ministers openly supporting stronger regulation around tobacco control. The statement was released today, on World No Tobacco Day – marked every year on 31 May. Its purpose […]