The Geneva Association framework for climate change actions of insurers: a case study of Nordic insurers

• Published in: Journal of cleaner production 2014-07, Vol.75, p.20-30
• Main Author: Johannsdottir, Lara
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Climate change; Climate change strategy; Climate-related action; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Environment and sustainable development; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Nordic, non-life insurer; Pollution; The Geneva association framework
• ISSN: 0959-6526; 1879-1786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.03.074

Climate change is a major strategic issue for insurers, both as a risk and an opportunity. The Geneva Association1 has therefore urged insurers to move forward in integrating climate-related decisions and actions into day-to-day business, and a framework has been developed to assess insurers' climate change actions. This paper explores the Geneva Association framework for climate change actions in the context of Nordic non-life insurers. This is a four-level framework, ranging from inaction to integration. When the framework was introduced in 2009, the impression was that the insurance industry was reactive in its approach to integrating climate change into the core business. The framework was utilized at the Nordic Insurance Climate Conference in 2009, supporting the Geneva Association notion about the situation. The findings of this case study suggest a difference between two case groups: the Island companies (SMEs), including insurance companies operating in Åland, Faroe Islands and Iceland, and Mainland companies operating in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. The Island companies are to a large extent inactive, while the Mainland companies are moving forward becoming developed in their approach to dealing with climate-related issues. Company size and outside drivers, including market and social drivers, are two of the factors that account for the difference between the case groups. •Insurers must deal strategically with climate change issues.•The GA framework can be used to assess climate change actions in companies of different sizes.•Integration of climate-related actions into the day-to-day business is taking place.•Small and medium-sized insurance companies lag behind in climate-related actions.•It is of benefits to the insurance sector to assist the companies lagging behind to move forward.