3 February 2026 - The insurance industry continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to climate action, according to the 2025 ClimateWise Principles Independent Review. The report, published today by the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), shows that the sector is further embedding climate resilience and transition planning into core business strategies, even as external conditions continue to evolve.
The 2025 ClimateWise Principles Review highlights a “culture of improvement,” with members of the initiative achieving a 6% average score increase on a like-for-like basis compared to the previous year. This progress is supported by advances in climate risk management and a growing integration of nature-related considerations within governance structures. In particular, two-thirds of organisations in the group have either developed or committed to develop a transition plan.
Transition planning: industry momentum builds
For the first time, the ClimateWise framework has formally assessed transition plans, which is emerging as a defining feature of market leadership.
- One-third of members have already submitted full transition plans, demonstrating how long-term net zero commitments are being translated into tangible, near-term underwriting and investment actions.
- A further one-third of members have made formal commitments to develop transition plans and have disclosed detailed roadmaps outlining how these plans will be developed.
Key trends: resilience through rigour
The 2025 report identifies several trends that reflect the continued maturation of the industry’s approach to sustainability best practice:
- Strategic integration: Insurers’ climate strategies are increasingly cohesive, with members using levers such as policyholder engagement and product innovation to support the opportunities associated with the transition to a low-carbon economy.
- Growing focus on double materiality: 58% of members have conducted, or plan to conduct, double materiality assessments, considering both the impacts of sustainability-related risks on the business and the sector’s broader environmental footprint. This represents a notable increase from 33% in 2024.
- Governance of nature-related risks and opportunities: Nature considerations are becoming more firmly embedded, with 39% of members now integrating nature-related risks into board-level governance processes.
Navigating a Shifting Landscape
This progress reflects the industry’s ability to operate effectively across diverse and evolving global contexts. Drawing on deep expertise in risk management, data and scenario analysis, the findings show that insurers continue to take a long-term view, ensuring that strategic momentum is maintained while responding to changing conditions.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As sustainability expectations continue to evolve, the findings of the 2025 ClimateWise Principles Independent Review underline the insurance sector’s capacity to respond with discipline and consistency. By embedding climate and nature considerations into governance, strategy and operations, ClimateWise members are reinforcing the foundations of long-term resilience.