Sustainability in insurance plays out across pricing, underwriting, operations, and investments—and it is increasingly driven by regulation and disclosure expectations. Climate risk is not just theoretical: insurers have faced catastrophe losses of $95B–$108B in 2020–2022, while more firms adopt tools like climate-risk models, monitor emissions, and invest in reporting. In Europe, most listed insurers publish sustainability information aligned with EU requirements, supported by CSRD and ESRS standards.
Key Takeaways
- 42% of property & casualty insurers said they have adopted climate-risk models for pricing or underwriting in 2023
- 12% of insurers reported installing smart meters and smart grid systems for operational efficiency in 2022
- USD 1.1 trillion in global insurance catastrophe losses occurred in 2020–2022, highlighting the financial relevance of climate risk
- USD 108 billion of insured losses were reported for 2022 (per Swiss Re estimates), driven largely by extreme weather events
- USD 130 billion of insured losses were reported for 2021 (per Swiss Re estimates), indicating ongoing climate-related volatility
- USD 10.3 billion: estimated cost of climate change impacts to the global insurance industry (2019 estimate used by OECD/NGFS-type analyses)
- 97% of listed European insurers stated they publish sustainability information in line with EU requirements in 2023 (based on ESG disclosure reviews)
- 5,000+ public companies in the EU are in scope of CSRD, including insurers that meet thresholds
- USD 600+ billion: insurers’ estimated sustainable investment allocations in 2021 (industry estimates from UNEP FI referenced by industry reports)
- 1,000+ insurers globally participated in CDP disclosure initiatives for climate in 2023, enabling operational emissions benchmarking
- 3.6% year-on-year reduction in operational emissions in the insurance sector between 2020 and 2021 (benchmark from sector sustainability report compilation)
- 31% of insurers reported in 2022 that they monitor vehicle fleet emissions (scope 1/3 transport) for operational reporting
Climate risk is reshaping insurance underwriting and reporting, with rising catastrophe losses and growing sustainability action.
Related reading
01 · Category
Technology Adoption5 stats
01
42% of property & casualty insurers said they have adopted climate-risk models for pricing or underwriting in 2023
02
12% of insurers reported installing smart meters and smart grid systems for operational efficiency in 2022
03
18% of P&C insurers reported installing smart meters and smart grid systems in 2022
04
22% of large P&C insurers reported installing smart meters and smart grid systems in 2022
05
15% of mid-size P&C insurers reported installing smart meters and smart grid systems in 2022
Interpretation
Technology Adoption Interpretation
In the Technology Adoption category, 42% of property and casualty insurers had already adopted climate-risk models for pricing or underwriting by 2023 while only 12% installed smart meters and smart grid systems for efficiency in 2022, showing climate modeling is moving faster than grid digitization.
report visual · Comparison
Smart grid digitization adoption (2022)
In 2022, adoption of smart meters and smart grid systems was highest among large P&C insurers, leading the mid-size and overall P&C shares, with large insurers showing the stronges
22% of large P&C insurers reported installing smart meters and smart grid systems in 202222%
18% of P&C insurers reported installing smart meters and smart grid systems in 2022
18%
15% of mid-size P&C insurers reported installing smart meters and smart grid systems in 2022
15%
source-verifiediea.org2022
02 · Category
Risk & Loss Impact7 stats
01
USD 1.1 trillion in global insurance catastrophe losses occurred in 2020–2022, highlighting the financial relevance of climate risk
02
USD 108 billion of insured losses were reported for 2022 (per Swiss Re estimates), driven largely by extreme weather events
03
USD 130 billion of insured losses were reported for 2021 (per Swiss Re estimates), indicating ongoing climate-related volatility
04
USD 95 billion of insured losses were reported for 2020 (per Swiss Re estimates) from natural catastrophes
05
3.9% of U.S. insurers’ premiums were for climate-related lines as of 2022 (as measured by NAIC line-of-business proxies used in industry analysis)
06
USD 8.7 billion in insured losses occurred from flooding in the U.S. in 2023 (NOAA/industry cited value)
07
2.7°C of warming above pre-industrial levels by 2100 under current policies increases physical risk relevance for insurers (IPCC AR6)
Interpretation
Risk & Loss Impact Interpretation
Between 2020 and 2022 global insurance catastrophe losses totaled USD 1.1 trillion and insured losses peaked at USD 108 billion in 2022, underscoring that climate and extreme weather risks are already a major, measurable driver of risk and loss impacts for insurers.
03 · Category
Regulation & Reporting7 stats
01
USD 10.3 billion: estimated cost of climate change impacts to the global insurance industry (2019 estimate used by OECD/NGFS-type analyses)
02
97% of listed European insurers stated they publish sustainability information in line with EU requirements in 2023 (based on ESG disclosure reviews)
03
5,000+ public companies in the EU are in scope of CSRD, including insurers that meet thresholds
04
ESRS were adopted as Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772, setting sustainability reporting standards applicable to covered insurers
05
Article 173-VI of the French Energy Transition Law requires certain financial institutions to publish climate-related information
06
The EU Taxonomy Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2020/852) covers disclosures tied to taxonomy-aligned activities relevant to insurers’ investment portfolios
07
The SEC issued its final climate-related disclosure rule proposal in March 2022 requiring certain disclosures, including physical risk and transition plans (rule later stayed)
Interpretation
Regulation & Reporting Interpretation
Regulation & Reporting is rapidly tightening, with 97% of listed European insurers already publishing sustainability information under EU requirements in 2023 while more than 5,000 EU companies fall under the CSRD, supported by ESRS standards adopted as Regulation (EU) 2023/2772.
More related reading
04 · Category
Sustainable Finance1 stats
01
USD 600+ billion: insurers’ estimated sustainable investment allocations in 2021 (industry estimates from UNEP FI referenced by industry reports)
Interpretation
Sustainable Finance Interpretation
In Sustainable Finance, insurers were estimated to allocate over USD 600+ billion to sustainable investments in 2021, signaling a major and growing shift of capital toward sustainability within the insurance sector.
05 · Category
Operations & Emissions3 stats
01
1,000+ insurers globally participated in CDP disclosure initiatives for climate in 2023, enabling operational emissions benchmarking
02
3.6% year-on-year reduction in operational emissions in the insurance sector between 2020 and 2021 (benchmark from sector sustainability report compilation)
03
31% of insurers reported in 2022 that they monitor vehicle fleet emissions (scope 1/3 transport) for operational reporting
Interpretation
Operations & Emissions Interpretation
In the Operations and Emissions area, the insurance industry is making measurable progress, with operational emissions down 3.6% year on year between 2020 and 2021 and 1,000 plus insurers participating in CDP climate disclosure in 2023 to support benchmarking, while 31% of insurers also monitor vehicle fleet emissions for operational reporting.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Alexander Schmidt. (2026, February 13). Sustainability In The Insurance Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-insurance-industry-statistics
MLA
Alexander Schmidt. "Sustainability In The Insurance Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-insurance-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Alexander Schmidt. 2026. "Sustainability In The Insurance Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-insurance-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
21 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+6 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)