Mitigating climate risk

Highlight Stories

Climate Risk

Climate change poses one of the most pervasive risks to our planet and our prosperity. Its effects are already evident and shaking up our risk landscape: warmer average temperatures, rising sea levels, longer and more frequent heatwaves, heavy storms and rainfall, more floods, wildfires and weather extremes.

Swiss Re identified the threat of climate change as far back as 1979 and has been analysing its effects on society and the insurance industry ever since. As the threat has become more and more apparent, we've worked with our clients, partners and governments to take the actions to reduce the causes of climate risk and insure what cannot be mitigated.

Further Information

What we focus on

We focus on three primary areas of climate change risk that we feel are most important for society and where we can provide solutions to the underlying risks:

Natural catastrophes and the protection gap

Most natural catastrophe losses, including those caused by climate change, are not covered by insurance. This means that millions of households and businesses face a large and widening protection gap. With its re/insurance solutions, Swiss Re protects communities and businesses against the financial fallout from natural catastrophes, helping them recover quickly after a disaster and adapt to climate change.

Transition to a net-zero economy and the role of renewables

Notwithstanding the negative impact on our communities, our health and our natural world, climate change could also become a permanent drag on our economy. Without climate risk management and drastically reducing carbon emissions with a goal of net zero, the global economy will be significantly smaller by mid-century due to income and productivity losses.

Swiss Re offers innovative solutions for the journey to a net – zero economy by minimizing the risks associated with renewable energy and infrastructure projects while helping to drive continued growth and investment in the renewable energy sector. Our risk knowledge and expertise on renewables includes wind, solar, hydro, biomass, geothermal and battery storage as well as grid enhancement projects, making Swiss Re the partner of choice.

Progress through public-private partnerships

The most urgent question we need to address is how best to tackle the source of the climate change problem by drastically reducing carbon emissions and how to avert the most damaging consequences by adapting to impacts that are already unavoidable. No single industry or region can do this alone. Meeting a challenge of such magnitude can only be achieved in partnership between the public and private sectors.

Focus: Natural Catastrophes in 2023

A year in review: reaffirming outlook trends

Natural disasters resulted in insured losses of USD 108 billion in 2023. Insured losses surpassed the USD 100-billion mark for a fourth consecutive year. Annual insured losses have been growing by 5-7% on average for the last three decades, and Swiss Re anticipates this trend will continue over the long term. Total economic losses in 2023 reached USD 280 billion, meaning 60% of global exposures were uninsured as the protection gap remains significant.

Absent a peak-loss event like Hurricane Ian in 2022, which resulted in losses of more than USD 60 billion, the main driver behind 2023's insured losses was event frequency, in particular as regions in the US and Europe were hit by severe convective storms (SCS). There were 141 loss inducing natural catastrophes events in 2023, the most in a single year.

Publication sigma 1/2024: Natural catastrophes in 2023

Gearing up for today's and tomorrow's weather risks.

components.articleTeaserArea

Key figures for natural catastrophes in 2023

  • Nat cat economic losses
    USD 280 billion
  • Nat cat protection gap
    USD 175 billion
  • Long-term average annual growth trend in insured losses from natural catastrophes
    5% - 7%

Focus: Renewables

There has seldom been greater need for renewable energy sources but understanding the underlying risks is key.
The green transition is a global effort to combat climate change and transition towards a sustainable, low carbon future. In this crucial transformation, the re/insurance industry plays a vital role by mitigating and managing the risks associated with emerging technology. By providing financial support, risk assessment and innovative solutions, Swiss Re can help facilitate the development of green technologies, including renewable energy resources, and encourage resilience, accelerating the transition to a greener economy. With our expertise and commitment to sustainability, Swiss Re is the partner of choice for driving the green transition forward.

components.articleTeaserArea

Video How the re/insurance industry can help power the energy transition

Watch our experts discuss the vital role of re/insurance in the global transition to renewable energy

components.gridTeaserArea.title.vh

Read our latest insights on climate risks

Event Climate change webinar series

Visit the webinar series page to re-watch the last 3 episodes and get updates on the upcoming ones.

Collaboration A powerful partnership: Swiss Re and Alexander Verbeek

Climate change is an urgent global issue that requires collective action from all sectors of society. Recognizing the importance of spreading awareness about climate change and its impact on natural catastrophes, renowned climate change influencer Alexander Verbeek has teamed up with Swiss Re.

components.gridTeaserArea.title.vh

CatNet® - Our proprietary location intelligence tool

Online natural hazard atlas for efficient, accurate underwriting and risk management.

Reinsurance solutions

Corporate solutions

components.gridTeaserArea.title.vh

See other Group Topics

Risk Perspectives blog

Insights to risk topics and trends within the industry, brought to you by Swiss Re's leading experts