Climate change

The impact of extreme weather remains top of mind for many, with a majority of homeowners citing it as a factor behind purchase or relocation considerations.

Three U.S. senators opened an inquiry into insurance ratings firm Demotech and whether its assessments may be exposing taxpayers to growing risks tied to climate-driven insurer failures.

A California realtors group reportedly pressured the real estate site to stop displaying climate risk scores for homes. The private provider of the scores defended the quality of its models and ratings, while consumer advocates called for standardized, publicly available climate risk data about homes for buyers.

The changing climate is increasing insurance rates for residents and cities and lowering property values in areas that face more frequent and intense disasters.

Under fire from consumer advocates after failures of new home insurers in the state, the ratings agency says its scores are meant to show an insurer's current health, and prospects for a maximum of one year. Reinsurance and the insurer's choice of policies being taken from the insurer of last resort can cause problems that surface later.

In a world assailed by extreme weather, homeowners and purchasers need to know their property's vulnerability to wildfire or flooding. Ratings like those Zillow took down are a big improvement on often outdated federal flood maps and state wildfire maps. 

Tanguy Catlin, an insurance industry expert at the consultancy, thinks insurance is failing to meet society's needs, but sees ways that insurtechs can help address its deficiencies.

Devastating floods have killed more than 1,300 people and caused at least $20 billion in losses since late last month across parts of South and Southeast Asia.

For years, academics and brokers have discussed whether cat bonds could do more than just clean up after disasters.

Global challenges demand coordinated international action and smarter regulation.

Representatives of the insurance industry called the proposal too speculative and prescriptive, while consumer and environmental advocates say it doesn't go far enough.

A rare thing is about to happen in the $55 billion market for catastrophe bonds: a trigger event will wipe out 100% of a bond's principal.

Edison International Chief Executive Officer Pedro Pizarro said it is likely that the company's utility equipment could be found to be associated with the start of the deadly Eaton Fire.

Hurricane Melissa thrashed Cuba, unleashing landslides and flooding in the nation's second-largest city.

The dangerous storm was about 50 miles south-southeast of Negril, Jamaica, at the western tip of the island, the US National Hurricane Center said in an 9 a.m. New York time update.

The seemingly unstoppable rise of catastrophe bonds may now be eroding the market share of reinsurers.

Jay Koh, a private equity veteran and former Carlyle Group Inc. executive, says investors should be paying a lot more attention to the new economy forming around extreme weather.

Preliminary insured losses for the first nine months of 2025 already stand at about $105 billion, according to a report Wednesday by Gallagher Re.

Several insurance and wildfire-related bills were signed into law October 10, including authorization for bonds to finance California's insurer of last resort.

Insurers getting proactive about climate risks are finding that excess and surplus lines are a vehicle for innovation in coverage.