气候变化时代的环境污染

Co–Authors: Chris Smy,Cristin Bullen Wickless,Günes Ergun Abstract Climate change is causing more frequent and severe weather events. In2024, the hottest year on record, natural disasters resulted in over US$320billion in economic losses, mainly due to weather catastrophes such ashurricanes, thunderstorms, and floods. These figures often exclude costsrelated to loss of life, healthcare, and environmental pollution. However,environmental damage significantly affects organizations and theiroperations through infrastructure failures and inadequate risk mitigation,potentially leading to long-term liabilities and negativefinancial consequences. Weather catastrophes, exacerbated by climate change,contribute to environmental pollution in several ways.Floodwaters can carry harmful pollutants, including sewageand chemicals, contaminating waterways and threateningwildlife and human health. Severe weather and rising sealevel can disrupt Superfund sites, spreading contaminants.Damage to hydraulic infrastructure can release storedpollutants, while flooding can alter the transport of metalsand toxic elements in groundwater. Increased storm activitycan cause water damage in buildings, leading to toxicmold growth. Wildfires contaminate air, soil, and water,while changing weather patterns exacerbate soil erosion,exposing buried contaminants. High temperatures canincrease pollutant toxicity, and reduced rainfall can prolongthe persistence of contaminants in soil. Additionally, alteredprecipitation patterns can lead to nutrient runoff, causingeutrophication and harmful algal blooms. These pollutiontriggers highlight the urgent need for effective managementand mitigation strategies. Risk managers should recognize these escalating threatsand take proactive measures to protect their operations andassets. This includes conducting thorough risk assessments,implementing risk reduction strategies, and utilizing relevantrisk transfer solutions. Risk managers should evaluate variousinsurance options, particularly environmental impairmentliability (EIL) insurance, as the demand for comprehensivecoverage grows. Insurers are innovating to addressheightened pollution risks associated with extreme weather,including coverage for gradual pollution and biodiversity loss.In this evolving landscape, risk managers are encouraged toexplore risk transfer solutions to navigate the complexities ofenvironmental risks in a changing climate. This paper outlines the main drivers of environmentalpollution and damage risk, provides a roadmap for actionfor risk managers, discusses insurance solutions, andshares insights from insurers on potential innovations andopportunities for coverage expansion. Over 50% of organizationslack EIL coverage,indicating a potentialgap in protection againstenvironmental pollutionand damage from severeweather events.“ 02 Abstract 06 Climate change: A catalyst forenvironmental pollution and damage 10Embracing comprehensive approaches tounderstand and respond to climate-amplifiedenvironmental risks 12 Assessing insurance coverage and emergingtrends in environmental pollution risks 19 The growing importance of environmentalimpairment liability insurance 20 Envisioning the future and the path forward 21References Contents Climate change: A catalystfor environmental pollutionand damage and impacting major industries. These fires resulted in 28fatalities and consumed over 16,000 hectares, with economiclosses estimated at over US$200 billion. Climate change is elevating risks to organizations’ assets,operations, and environmental impacts, emphasizing thegrowing importance of integrating comprehensive strategiesto address these evolving challenges. Scientificevidenceshows that the rising frequency and intensity of extremeweather events — such as severe storms, tropical cyclones,and the subsequent natural disasters, such as floods,droughts, and wildfires — are direct consequences of climatechange. The environmental aftermath of these events variesby geographical location and is influenced by factors suchas urban planning, infrastructure resilience, socioeconomicconditions, geopolitical dynamics, and the state of thenatural environment. Estimated economic losses from natural disasters typically donot account for loss of life, healthcare costs, or environmentaland biodiversity damage. These events can cause immediatedamage and lead to gradual pollution of air, water, andsoil when infrastructure containing hazardous materialsdeteriorates, fails, or is inadequate — particularly in high-risk areas with concentrated economic activities. This createslong-term liability risks. For example, in the built environment,flooding can clog rivers and sewage systems with sediment,overwhelming treatment plants and increasing the risk ofdisease outbreaks. Additionally, changes in temperature,humidity, and precipitation can accelerate corrosion due toincreased carbonation and chloride ingress, compromisingthe structural integrity of