Publications
Climate Change – Information Note for Appointed Actuaries
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Climate change is a material strategic risk and one of the major challenges facing financial institutions today. Investors in financial institutions acknowledged this in 2017 when the Taskforce for Climate Related Financial Disclosures (“TCFD”) released a voluntary disclosure basis. Regulators have recognised that the financial risks associated with climate change have the ability to undermine financial stability and are increasing their expectations around the measurement and management of climate change risks and opportunities.
This Information Note provides Appointed Actuaries with an outline of how insurance operations may be impacted by climate change, and offers suggestions for how to address these issues in a Financial Condition Report. Australian Prudential Regulation Authority’s (“APRA”) Prudential Standard CPS3201 outlines the requirements for the Appointed Actuary (“AA”) in writing a Financial Condition Report. In this note we refer to individual sections of this prudential standard where appropriate.
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This information will also be helpful in many other situations when advice is provided to financial institutions. This Information Note does not constitute legal advice. Any interpretation or commentary within the Information Note regarding specific legislative or regulatory requirements reflects the expectations of the Institute but does not guarantee compliance under applicable legislation or regulations.
Accordingly, Members should seek clarification from the relevant regulator and/or seek legal advice in the event they are unsure or require specific guidance regarding their legal or regulatory obligations. Ongoing feedback from Members is encouraged; any feedback should be directed to the Climate Change Working Group via actuaries@actuaries.asn.au
The Impact of Climate Change on Mortality and Retirement Incomes in Australia
By Ramona Meyricke and Rafal Chomik
In Australia, the main risk to human life from climate change arises from heatwaves. As the frequency and duration of heatwaves increase, so will the number of heat-related deaths - and older people are the most vulnerable.
Other wide-ranging implications of climate change could include lower investment returns and superannuation contributions, with consequent lower retirement incomes.
This paper outlines these heat-related risks and explains why they should be considered by life insurers and annuity providers, individuals and government.
Key points
- Heatwaves, which have killed more Australians than any other natural disaster, are expected to become more frequent and last longer.
- Deaths from heatwaves could rise by 12% among over 65-year-olds by 2060-2080 in some regions.
- Climate change may have negative long-term return implications for investors.
- For individuals, it may mean lower super balances; illustrative modelling suggests reductions of 11-18% for the median earner.
The Dialogue is a series of papers written by actuaries and published by the Actuaries Institute. The papers aim to stimulate discussion on important emerging issues. The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of either the Institute of Actuaries of Australia (the ‘Institute’), its members, directors, officers, employees, agents, or that of the employers of the author
Climate Risk Disclosure - Financial Institutions Feel the Heat
By Sharanjit Paddam and Stephanie Wong
Climate change raises real risks and opportunities for financial institutions which need to be identified, managed and disclosed. In this issue, two senior actuaries recommend an eight-point strategy to address climate change.
Key points
- Australian institutions are ill-prepared for the impact of rising temperatures and extreme weather events and the effect these will have on their balance sheets.
- Banks and general insurers have acute and long-term exposures and many Australian financial institutions have yet to understand the scope of the risk and their opportunity.
- The impact across industries of rising temperatures and an increase in floods, bush fires and cyclones, are likely to result in acute physical risk to property.
- There is a legal risk for financial institutions if there is a finding in favour of shareholder action over inadequate disclosure of climate change risks.
- The transition to low carbon energy presents both risks and opportunities for financial institutions, investors and workers.
The Dialogue is a series of papers written by actuaries and published by the Actuaries Institute. The papers aim to stimulate discussion on important emerging issues. The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of either the Institute of Actuaries of Australia (the ‘Institute’), its members, directors, officers, employees, agents, or that of the employers of the author
Property Insurance Affordability - Challenges and Potential Solutions
This paper was prepared by the General Insurance Affordability Working Group
on behalf of the Institute.
Households in up to 12% of Australian postcodes may face pressure meeting annual home insurance premiums, a figure which represents around 7% of Australia’s population, according to the Research Paper.
This affordability pressure can give rise to households having a ‘protection gap’, where inadequate or no insurance is held.
That gap is concerning for individuals, communities, governments (taxpayers) and charitable organisations because they are all called upon to bridge the gap in times of loss.
Policymakers are looking for better ways ahead, as evidenced by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission inquiry and the Royal Commission into natural disasters. State of the Climate 2020, a CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology report released earlier this month, adds a further contextual imperative.
The Paper aims to help policymakers better understand affordability issues and considerations with potential solutions
16 September 2020: Actuaries Institute Submission to Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements
The Actuaries Institute commends Counsel Assisting for its considered and extensive Interim Observations and Draft Propositions on this issue of growing national importance. The Institute supports many of the draft propositions and has separately submitted a completed Draft Propositions Response Table in the requested electronic format.
21 May 2020: Notice to Give Information (Witness Statement) to Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements
Witness Statement by Sharanjit Paddam, Convenor of the Actuaries Institute Climate Change Working Group, to the Royal Commission.
16 April 2020: Actuaries Institute Submission to Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements
The Institute notes that immediate emergency response is critical in the preservation of life and an important part of disaster arrangements, but we have confined our comments in this submission to issues regarding mitigation and adaptation, insurance and long-term financial recovery for communities. This submission synthesises the findings from the Institute’s body of work under four main areas: natural disasters in Australia, the changing climate, affordability of insurance and health impacts.
10 October 2019: Northern Australia Insurance Inquiry - Second Update Report
The Actuaries Institute ("the Institute") welcomes the opportunity to comment on this report.