15 December 2015

Insurance Council signs Paris Pledge for Action

The Insurance Council of New Zealand this week signed the Paris Pledge for Action, which affirms our strong support for the adoption of the new universal climate agreement at COP21 in Paris.

Today the insurance sector along with major cities, regions, companies and investors from around the globe promised to quickly and effectively help implement the universal climate change agreement and accelerate the transformative changes needed to meet the climate change challenge.

L’Appel de Paris , or The Paris Pledge for Action, brings together a multitude of voices on an unprecedented scale within a single, collective statement:

“We welcome the adoption of a new, universal climate agreement at COP 21 in Paris, which is a critical step on the path to solving climate change. We pledge our support to ensuring that the level of ambition set by the agreement is met or exceeded.”

Tim Grafton, Chief Executive of the Insurance Council, says “the insurance and financial sector generally will play a pivotal role in transitioning from a high to a low carbon economy. While climate change mitigation measures are critical, adaptation initiatives to reduce risk must also be taken to protect people and assets at risk”.

ICNZ is a supporting institution of the United Nations Environmental Programme’s Principles of Sustainable Insurance (PSI) initiative and has also developed a 15 point action plan for better protecting New Zealand from natural disasters.

ENDS

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