William T.J. de la Mare

Abstract

This article focuses on how climate change has, and will continue to, alter the insurance industry. It explores the impact of climate change on insurers’ ability to predict losses accurately and considers how actors who contribute to climate change should be held accountable. In addressing these questions, the article examines the laws and regulatory systems relating to insurance and environmental protection in the United States, the European Union, China, and the Middle East, concluding that many existing frameworks are inadequate. The article calls for the development of a comprehensive legal structure to address climate change risk and warns that without such a framework, the insurance industry may be unable to cope with catastrophic losses associated with climate-related risks.

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