The Ontario Broker - Volume 22, Issue 2 - 9

COLUMNS
OUR CLIMATE PRESENT
Dr. Gordon McBean, Professor Emeritus, Western University
Research Chair, Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction
THE INDUSTRY'S CONTRIBUTION
ICLR and its peers have studied
implications of the climate crisis for
insurers and consumers and we're
committed to the development and
communication of disaster prevention
knowledge. After years of discussions, the
Federal Government hosted on May 16,
2022, a National Adaptation Symposium
to launch its public engagement and
consultation process for Canada's first-ever
Adaptation Strategy. Several insurance
company representatives participated in
the process, including IBC's Craig Stewart,
Vice-President, Climate Change and
Federal Issues, as co-chair of the Disaster
Resilience and Security Advisory Table. It's
an important role for the sector.
WHAT BROKERS CAN DO
O
ver many decades, climate
change has evolved from
being a topic of scientific
interest to becoming a
policy issue in the 80s and
now the " defining challenge of our time. " I
serve as the Research Chair to the Institute
for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR),
which was established by Canada's property
and casualty insurance industry as an
independent, not-for-profit research institute
in 1997, linked with Western University
in 1999, and quickly evolved into a worldclass
centre for multi-disciplinary disaster
prevention research and communication.
THE LATEST REPORT
In February 2022, the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report was
released, addressing the issues of impacts,
adaptation and vulnerability. The overall
summary concluded, with high confidence
that " human-induced climate change has
caused widespread adverse impacts and
related losses and damages to nature and
people. The rise in weather and climate
extremes has led to some irreversible
impacts as natural and human systems are
pushed beyond their ability to adapt. Climate
change impacts and risks are becoming
increasingly complex and more difficult
to manage. " The Report also notes that
" Addressing these risks have been made
more urgent by delays due to misinformation
about climate science that has sowed
uncertainty, and impeded recognition of risk. "
WHAT IS BEING DONE
Canada is warming about twice as fast
as the global average and we are seeing
increased numbers and intensity of
extreme events, with wildfires, flooding, hot
days and extreme weather having major
impacts-including Ontario's recent derecho
storm. Some communities, fortunately,
have displayed great creativity, foresight
and commitment to reducing their risk to
wildfires by capitalizing on their strengths
and forming alliances with internal and
external players to build capacity as reported
in Cities Adapt to Extreme Wildfires, Celebrating
Local Leadership.
Brokers can fight against climate change by
encouraging property owners and others to
reduce exposure and vulnerability of houses
and other infrastructure. They can speak
out about climate misinformation. They can
add their voices to the multi-disciplinary
choir of experts working to explain that the
climate crisis is upon us now and to convince
Canadians that we can and should act to
reverse it through concerted national and
individual action.
Brokers can take personal actions to
protect their own workplaces and homes,
with the flood, fire, and wind-protection
measures that ICLR and others advocate.
And by understanding the resilience features
that provide enhanced risk reduction in a
changing climate, such as impact-resistant
roofing, sewer backflow valves, battery
backup sump pumps, noncombustible
cladding, and others, insurers will increase
consideration of these features in ratemaking
and other policy decisions. With their homes,
families, and offices protected, brokers will
be better prepared to serve their customers
in times of need.
VOLUME 22 | ISSUE 2
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The Ontario Broker - Volume 22, Issue 2

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