News Brief: Insurers Focus on Risk Mitigation as Catastrophe Losses Exceed $100 Billion Again
Summary
Global insured losses from natural catastrophes are projected to hit $107 billion in 2025, marking the sixth straight year above $100 billion. Wildfires and severe storms are the primary drivers. In response, insurers are increasingly working with policyholders to implement risk mitigation strategies, moving beyond traditional coverage to actively engineer resilience.
Key Points
- Record Losses: 2025 insured catastrophe losses are estimated at $107B, the sixth consecutive year exceeding $100B. The January Los Angeles wildfires alone caused ~$40B in losses.
- Main Perils: Wildfires and severe storms account for 83% of global insured losses, fueled by climate change, rising property values, and development in hazardous zones.
- Engineering Resilience: Insurer FM operates a research campus where engineers test materials against hurricanes, hail, wildfires, and more. They certify products that meet high durability standards.
- Mitigation in Action: Insurers are requiring or incentivizing actions like creating defensible space against wildfires, using approved building materials, and installing protective devices (e.g., water leak valves, hail-resistant roofing/solar panels).
- Financial Incentives: Companies like FM offer “resilience credits,” returning a portion of premiums to help clients fund mitigation projects, arguing it reduces long-term risk for both parties.
- Industry Shift: The trend is toward a proactive model: “We’re an engineering company that does insurance,” says FM’s CEO, highlighting the integration of risk prevention with coverage.
新闻简报：灾害损失再超千亿美元，保险公司助客户降低风险
总结
据预测，2025年全球自然灾害导致的保险损失将达到1070亿美元，这是连续第六年超过1000亿美元。野火和强风暴是主要推手。对此，保险公司正越来越多地与保单持有人合作，实施风险缓解策略，超越传统承保模式，积极构建抗灾能力。
关键点
- 损失创纪录： 2025年保险灾害损失估计为1070亿美元，连续第六年超过1000亿美元。仅1月份的洛杉矶野火就造成了约400亿美元的损失。
- 主要灾害： 野火和强风暴占全球保险损失的83%，其驱动因素包括气候变化、房地产价值上涨以及在危险区域的开发建设。
- 工程抗灾： 保险公司FM拥有一个研究园区，工程师在那里测试材料抵御飓风、冰雹、野火等灾害的能力，并对符合高耐久性标准的产品进行认证。
- 缓解措施实践： 保险公司要求或激励采取行动，如为防范野火创建防御空间、使用经认证的建筑材料、安装保护装置（如漏水阀门、防冰雹屋顶/太阳能板）。
- 财务激励： 像FM这样的公司提供”抗灾信用”，返还部分保费以帮助客户资助缓解项目，认为这从长远来看降低了双方的风险。
- 行业转型： 趋势正转向主动预防模式。FM的CEO表示：”我们是一家做保险的工程公司”，强调了风险预防与保险承保的融合。
Original Article Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/16/insurers-policyholders-mitigate-risk-catastrophe-losses.html