This report begins with the thesis that the global climate crisis is real. Insurance companies that operate property and liability insurance are facing an increase in claims involving single-family homes, buildings and infrastructure. Less attention is being paid to researching and understanding the impact of climate change on human health and what that means for insurance companies.

These impacts include acute risks, such as respiratory problems due to devastating fires or heat waves, as well as chronic risks, where continuous changes in temperature increase the possibility of disease, for example due to the increasing number of disease-carrying insects. . Air pollution from burning fossil fuels, which is a cause of climate change, increases the risk of various other health problems.

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The report further emphasizes that these impacts on private life and health insurance companies have so far been insignificant. However, this number is likely to increase as the impact of climate change becomes greater and its impacts become more severe. Insurance companies, which should play an important role in protecting society from the health impacts of climate change, are encouraged in this report to innovate, for example through parametric insurance, where an agreed and predetermined amount will be paid if a “trigger” event occurs.

In addition, priority should be given to prevention using stimulated behavior, which, according to the GA, will be beneficial for nature and human health. However, data problems also need to be addressed so that health risks related to climate change can be measured or detected.

Those interested in this issue can read the full text of the GA and Wellcome Foundation report.