Can we rely on insurance to help rebuild after extreme weather?

2022-03-20

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Scientists say extreme weather is intensifying and becoming more frequent because of climate change and the impacts are causing huge losses. People living in Brisbane and other parts of eastern Australia dealt with those impacts recently, when heavy rain fell for days - destroying thousands of homes and at least 22 people are known to have died. Authorities declared it a once in a-100-year-event, making it the second disaster of its kind in the same area in just 11 years. While insurers face...

Scientists say extreme weather is intensifying and becoming more frequent because of climate change and the impacts are causing huge losses.

People living in Brisbane and other parts of eastern Australia dealt with those impacts recently, when heavy rain fell for days - destroying thousands of homes and at least 22 people are known to have died.

Authorities declared it a once in a-100-year-event, making it the second disaster of its kind in the same area in just 11 years. While insurers face losses trying to cover it all, reinsurers say climate change is now a number one risk.

We talk to residents in Brisbane as they clean up after the floods and ask if insurance can be the world’s safety net as the impacts of climate change intensify?

Presenters Jordan Dunbar and Kate Lamble are joined by:

Ernst Rauch, chief geo and climate scientist, Munich Re Robin McConchie, reporter based in Brisbane. Ekerete Olawoye Gam-Ikon, insurance strategy consultant Maryam Golnaraghi, director, climate change and environment, the Geneva Association

Producer: Darin Graham Reporter: Robin McConchie Researchers: Lizzie Frisby, Frances Read, Natasha Fernandes, Perisha Kudhail Series producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Nicola Addyman Sound engineer: Tom Brignell

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