Surge in Natural Disasters and Insurers’ Reluctance
The frequency and severity of natural disasters are on the rise, with many attributing this increase to the effects of climate change. As a result, property owners face mounting challenges when securing insurance coverage for their assets. For example, the mayor of L’Aiguillon-la-Presqu’île, Laurent Huger, has experienced difficulty finding affordable insurance for his commune due to the devastation caused by natural disasters such as the recent floods in Vendée. When he does manage to secure coverage, it often comes with exorbitant pricing. This trend of soaring home insurance prices is becoming all too common for property owners living in at-risk areas.
A World 4 Degrees Warmer: Uninsurable?
One factor contributing to these rising insurance costs is the fact that continents are warming up faster than oceans, causing drastic changes in weather patterns. Axa CEO Henri de Castries made headlines in 2015 when he declared that a world 4 degrees warmer would be impossible to insure. The figures support his claim: according to France Assureurs, expenses related to natural events during the second half of the 21st century will amount to double those incurred from 1989-2019. Pascal Demurger, CEO of Maif, said during the “La France s’adapte” event that significant insurance premium increases would become necessary to cover these losses.
Clay Soil Swelling and Cracking Houses: A Growing Concern
In the near future, 11.1 million out of 20.3 million houses in France may suffer from cracks resulting from a dangerous phenomenon known as clay soil shrinkage-swelling cycles. This occurs when an alternation between drought and rehydration causes damage to the structure of a house, and it has led to a deficit in the natural disaster insurance sector since 2015. The percentage of affected houses is expected to reach as high as 20% by January 1, 2025, with strong risk affecting around 3.3 million homes.
One area particularly susceptible to this issue is Occitanie, which has been experiencing increasingly severe weather conditions and drought-related consequences. As a result, the region has seen an 8% increase in home insurance prices, surpassing both Paca and Ile-de-France as the most expensive region for coverage. Gers also presents ample cause for concern, as approximately 90% of the houses within the department are classified as high-risk by France Assureurs.
The Retreat of Insurers and Rising Risk Awareness
As the situation continues to worsen, some insurers have decided to withdraw from the market entirely. They refuse to cover properties that are deemed too exposed due to their vulnerability to floods or other perils. Insiders have noted parallels to the American examples of Florida and California, where obtaining property insurance has become exceedingly challenging. For those still providing coverage, premiums and deductibles can be astronomical, posing even more problems for property owners.
In order to address these issues, several potential solutions have been put forth by industry professionals:
- Reinforce the state-regulated natural disaster regime: This could involve updating the requirements for what constitutes a natural disaster, improving coordination efforts between different levels of government, and increasing financial resources available for relief and recovery.
- Risk sharing among insurers: Spreading the risks would help lessen the burden on individual companies and ensure that residents in high-risk areas can continue to access coverage.
- Increased prevention measures: Disaster risk reduction efforts can be put in place at both the individual and community levels, from retrofitting homes and buildings to improve resilience to investing in early warning systems and better emergency planning.
- Spreading a culture of natural risk awareness: Ensuring that citizens are well-informed about the dangers posed by climate change and how they can take appropriate action to mitigate potential harm.
In summary, the rapidly changing climatic conditions present significant challenges for property insurance providers, with many experts believing that significant reforms will be needed in the coming years to address this crisis. Property owners must stay vigilant and consider all possible options, including personal risk mitigation efforts, government policies, and industry-wide collaboration, in order to protect their assets in an increasingly volatile world.
