The ClimateWise Insurance Advisory Council is a group of C-suite executives drawn from across ClimateWise’s global membership base. They commission impact research into ways the insurance industry can support the zero carbon, climate-resilient transition.
Insurance is among the industries most affected by climate change due to what it insures and invests in. Consequently, insurers are keen to mitigate the risks of climate change. While many organisations have worked voluntarily, both individually and in leadership groups, a more co-ordinated response is required across the financial system. This requires a combination of industry leadership supported by cutting-edge research and analysis.
The Council’s purpose is therefore to draw on the University of Cambridge and its partners’ expertise to help strengthen the industry's response and inform regulators, policymakers and other stakeholders on how to promote more systematic responses to climate change across the financial system.
The Council was established in 2016 and is currently led by chair Kevin O’Donnell, President and CEO, RenaissanceRe, with deputy chair John Scott, Head of Sustainability Risk, The Zurich Insurance group.
For queries relating to the Council, please contact us.
Council members
Kevin O’DonnellPresident and CEO, RenaissanceRe“Climate change is one of the most complex challenges faced by the world and our business. The insurance and reinsurance industry plays an important role in managing climate risk while helping facilitate the transition to a lower carbon economy. Through ClimateWise, leaders across the industry can collaborate to strengthen our collective response to this important issue.”
|
John ScottHead of Sustainability Risk, The Zurich Insurance group“Our commitment to the ClimateWise Insurance Advisory Council, the UN Global Compact Business Ambition Pledge for 1.5°C and as a founder member of the UN-convened Net Zero Insurance Alliance and Asset Owners Alliance, is to help policymakers fully understand the nature of climate change risks and identify opportunities to support system-wide responses to climate change.”
|
Stephen CatlinChairman and CEO, Convex“I hope my other roles as Chairman-elect of the International Insurance Society (IIS) and Chairman of the Insurance Development Forum (IDF) benefit the work of the Council as I can co-ordinate and align all organisations. I believe there is an urgent need to address the current misalignment between the need for sustainable investment activities, on the one hand, and a limiting regulatory environment on the other.”
|
Dominic ChristianGlobal Chairman Reinsurance Solutions, Aon“ClimateWise's long-standing collaboration between industry and academia continues to stimulate inventive thought, activate intelligent analysis and facilitate confident responses in a space long on conversation, shorter on actions.” |
Charlotte ClarkDirector of Regulation, Association of British Insurers (ABI)“The ABI is committed to leading the insurance and long-term savings sectors efforts to tackle climate change, through our Climate Change Roadmap. We have a unique role to play, as our sector can combine our investment capacity, risk management expertise and interaction with customers to drive change across the economy. I am proud to join the Advisory Council and continue the ABI’s longstanding involvement in ClimateWise. Collaboration by ClimateWise members can de-risk the technology and infrastructure innovations needed to reach Net Zero, while also ensuring households and businesses can manage the risks that come alongside change at this pace and scale.”
|
Rebekah ClementCorporate Affairs Director, Lloyd’s“As a market that supports millions of people and businesses around the world, Lloyd’s has an important role to play in insuring the transition to a lower carbon future – unlocking climate financing, innovating to insure renewable technologies and helping build resilience in climate vulnerable communities. Those efforts require a coordinated effort from all our stakeholders in industry, policy and beyond – which is why I’m proud to join the ClimateWise Insurance Advisory Council to accelerate progress towards a more sustainable economy.” |
Andrew CutlerCEO Tindall Riley“Tindall Riley is delighted to have joined ClimateWise and we look forward to being active members, whilst contributing to the insurance industry’s response to the major and urgent challenges posed to society by climate change. Our membership of this important collaboration reaffirms Tindall Riley’s commitment to sustainability.” |
Mandy DennisonVice President, Global Social Impact & ESG, Intact Financial Corporation“RSA and Intact have been on the frontlines of climate change with our customers, helping them to recover from the impacts of extreme weather. We’re committed to using our strengths, expertise, and scale to help build resilient communities and support our partners and customers transition towards a sustainable future.”
|
Rowan Douglas CBECEO, Climate Risk and Resilience, Howden“There is growing recognition of the critical role that insurance and its related capabilities play: from science and modelling, to disaster reduction and humanitarian responses, to building national and community resilience. A particular opportunity is to help regulators and other authorities from outside re/insurance learn about the hard-won lessons, and the approach towards disclosure and risk management that our sector has developed over the last two decades, to see how this might be applied more widely.”
|
Jon DyeCEO Hiscox plc“Having been part of the development of ClimateWise in a previous role I am very pleased to rejoin the Insurance Advisory Council to support ongoing development and research into the ways the insurance industry can come together to realise the zero carbon, climate-resilient transition. Hiscox’s sustainability ambition is to be here for the long term, for our customers, colleagues and communities, operating in a sustainable way for the future. To reach this ambition we need industries to move in the same direction and ClimateWise is a great example of this in action, I look forward to seeing what we can achieve collectively. Hiscox underwrites physical exposures susceptible to natural perils, which means it is crucial we understand as much as possible about climate risks and integrate that knowledge into our business activities. Aligning the industry thinking will support reducing climate impacts for all in the future and result in better outcomes for our customers, colleagues and communities.” |
Colm HolmesCEO, Allianz UK“Our purpose, 'we secure your future' means that sustainability is a priority for Allianz and we’re shaping change by working with others to find solutions for a sustainable future. We’re committed to limiting the impact of our business operations as well as providing products and services which will enable a transition to a low-carbon future for our employees and customers.”
|
Sean McGovernGeneral Counsel, AXA XL“At AXA XL we are committed to advancing knowledge of climate change, so that we can play our part in helping the world to become more resilient. I’m proud to be part of the ClimateWise Advisory Council, enabling our industry to come together to better tackle the impacts of such critical risks to our communities.”
|
Jason RichardsCountry President and CEO UK & Ireland, Swiss Re"The climate crisis is here. We simply must take action on the biggest threat confronting humanity. We need to work together as insurers and reinsurers and with all parties in the value chain, we need to share experiences, best practices and our risk knowledge. ClimateWise plays an important role here and I am delighted to have recently joined the Advisory Council."
|
Jason StorahCEO Aviva UK & Ireland“Sustainability is a strategic priority for Aviva. As a leading general insurer in the UK, we are acutely aware of the impact that climate change can have on our customers’ homes and businesses, and focusing on sustainability benefits our customers, communities, partners and business. I am proud to join the ClimateWise Insurance Advisory Council and I believe that our industry can collectively play an incredibly important role in insuring the transition. ClimateWise is a great vehicle for the industry to collaborate on the challenges ahead and use our combined influence to advocate for the wider economic change that is needed to achieve our collective Net Zero ambitions. Addressing climate change is central to Aviva’s purpose of ‘being with you today for a better tomorrow’, and I’m looking forward to the progress we can drive through ClimateWise and the Insurance Advisory Council.” |
Vivek SyalGroup Chief Risk Officer, Tokio Marine Kiln Group Limited“The combination of increased attention on climate change and the leadership / influence of the collective insurance sector provides a unique opportunity for us all to both protect our planet and transform the lives of those most vulnerable to its rising challenge. The ClimateWise Advisory Council provides a pathway for us to come together to make this a reality to support a cause that I am passionate about and carry out with utmost care and attention.”
|