It's nerdy scientists and earnest environmentalists with moss growing between their Birkenstocked toes who believe in climate change, right? Well, how about a less likely candidate, the massive insurance industry? This is the monolith we love to hate, but it is now deeply affected by pay-outs in the tens of billions of dollars for weather event related catastrophes. Even though the US government insures flood and crop losses and there is a reluctance for the industry to get involved in politics, insurers see the writing on the wall. In a recent New York Times article on the subject one of the insurance experts reflected on what is evolving:
Peter Hoppe who heads Geo Risks Research at the reinsurance giant Munich Re. “The rise in sea level caused by climate change will further increase the risk of storm surge.” Most insurers, including the reinsurance companies that bear much of the ultimate risk in the industry, have little time for the arguments heard in some right-wing circles that climate change isn’t happening, and are quite comfortable with the scientific consensus that burning fossil fuels is the main culprit of global warming.
In the United Church we have spoken out regularly about climate change as a faith issue, the violation of a sacred trust bestowed by God for humans to be humble and faithful stewards of Creation. We haven't received much credit for raising the concern, but it may be the "bottom line" which motivates new outlooks.
What do you think? Not holding your breath on business and industry taking the lead? Hopeful that they will?
I used to fall back on the easy scapegoat and say "government is doing nothing!". But I now believe that no one can play the ignorance card when it comes to understanding their impact on the world and the responsibility lies on the individual. Big business and industry need to step it up and lead by example. Media could better emphasize their stories on leadership and ground-breakers-- make a habit of covering the good news stories of businesses or individuals who are coming up with new ways to reduce their carbon footprint. It shouldn't just be in the local papers either. I recently heard about our local Algoma Orchards and their outstanding participation in the worldclass wastewater treatment project. We need to hear more about businesses like this! Or churches who install solar panels! ;)
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