AIR POLLUTION THE FASTEST GROWING PROTECTION GAP: AIRMIC MEMBERS

Air pollution is the fastest growing protection gap in terms of insurance coverage for climate risks, a survey of Airmic members this week has revealed.

This comes in the same week as the House of Commons released a new research briefing on air quality, which highlighted that that poor air quality is considered by the government to be “the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK.”

Nearly 40% of respondents in the Airmic survey said air pollution is a protection gap for their organisations in terms of insurance coverage for climate risks, up from 21% in May 2023 when Airmic members were last polled on the same question.

Hoe-Yeong Loke, Head of Research at Airmic, says: “Our members report that pollution is a standard exclusion under most policies, while they are not fully aware about liability policies that would respond to allegations of or actual air pollution caused by their organisations, other than if made directly against their directors and officers.”

More generally on climate risks, Airmic members say reinsurers are seeking increasingly detailed information or blanket exclusions, particularly in the US.

“The bigger question perhaps is that buyers think they have cover, but there may be caps, or that insurers may not always be clear on the exceptions. This is where we need to educate ourselves and our organisations, so that everyone is clear on what is covered,” Hoe-Yeong Loke says.

If you would like to request an interview and or have any further questions, please let me know.

We will be sharing the results of the Airmic Big Question with the press weekly.

Media contact: Leigh Anne Slade
Leigh-Anne.Slade@Airmic.com
07956 41 78 77