Severe Weather Impacts and Insurance Paul Kovacs President and CEO, PACICC Founder and Executive Director Adjunct Research Professor, Economics Western University
Our climate is changing
The impact on cities More intense rainfall that may overwhelm storm water systems More and longer summer heat waves that threaten health More and larger severe weather events
Insurance finances recovery Insurers set aside funds in advance to support rebuilding and recovery for homeowners and businesses after a loss most damage to private structures is insured (except flood) governments typically do not insure public infrastructure
Insurance is changing Focus remains on the business of risk management several traditional risks are declining increasing damage claims from severe weather
Traditional risks are shrinking Per capita index property crime in Canada, fire death and road fatalities in Ontario Fire deaths Traffic deaths
Climate risks are growing Share of insurance property claims incurred, Canada Water and wind claims Fire claims
Rising insurance claims paid Annual global insurance disaster claims, US$ billions $30 $20 $10 $0 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s
Damage expected to grow Expected damage with current climate (green) & climate change (orange), US$b 750 10-fold increase in weather damage predicted by World Bank! 500 250 0 1990-2008 2100
Investing in science ICLR Established in 1997 by Canada s insurers Mission Reduce the risk of loss of life and property damage from severe weather and earthquakes Science to action plan ICLR is a champion for multidisciplinary, evidence-based disaster risk reduction Located at Western University
Science to action World class research to generate knowledge to help cities adapt to build resilient homes to inform insurers Testing set-up
1. Prevent water damage Partnership with local governments / insurers determine best practices BasementFloodReduction.com
1. Prevent water damage Focus on homeowner participation Sept 19 Urban Flood Symposium II Ottawa, Winnipeg, London Hamilton, Kitchener Designed for safer living Windsor, Welland Protect your home from Basement flooding Designed for safer living is a program endorsed by Canada s insurers to promote disaster-resilient homes.
Loss Reduc Loss Reduction Institut de Prévention des Sinistres C 2. Resilient homes Institut de Prévention des Sinistres Catastrophiques Toronto office 20 Richmond Street East Suite 210 Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5C 2R9 Toronto office London office Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Laboratory20 Richmond Street East Suite 210 University of Western Ontario Toronto, Ontario, Canada London, Ontario, Canada M5C 2R9 N6A 5B9 Guidebooks for homeowners 416-364 - 8677 519-661- 3234 self assess water, wind and fire - 4273risk 519-661 416 364 5889 416-364 - 8677 416-364 - 5889 best practices to protect home info@iclr.org www.iclr.org info@iclr.org Designed for safer living 51 51 www.iclr.org Designed for safer living Designed for safer living Part of the FireSmart Protect your home from Protect your home from Protect your home from Protection Plan Basement flooding Severe wind Wildfire Designed for safer living is a program endorsed by Canada s insurers to promote disaster-resilient homes. Designed for safer living is a program endorsed by Canada s insurers to promote disaster-resilient homes. Designed for safer living is a program endorsed by Canada s insurers to promote disaster-resilient homes. Londo Bound Unive Londo N6A 5
2. Resilient homes Showcase homes partners include London, Halifax, Vancouver, Ottawa, Edmonton, Montreal, Jasper, Toronto, Hamilton, Moncton Quebec
2. Resilient homes Three safer living homes built with the Co-operators Ontario and Alberta demonstration homes with builders Active dialogue home builders / Code officials
2. Resilient homes ICLR has made 5 proposals for the 2015 building code
Extreme weather and insurance Insurers investing in research to: help cities adapt help builders build resilient homes help insurers adapt to extreme weather. Current focus at ICLR on reducing basement flood damage and building resilient homes.