Insurance Industry Sustainability Guides

The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) launched a first-of-its-kind global transition planning guide specifically designed for insurance and reinsurance underwriting portfolios. The comprehensive framework titled ‘Underwriting the Transition’ addresses the critical gap in sustainability guidance for the global insurance industry.

The groundbreaking guide provides insurance companies with detailed methodologies for assessing, managing, and transitioning their underwriting portfolios toward net-zero emissions and sustainable business practices. UNEP FI developed the framework through extensive collaboration with leading insurance companies, regulatory bodies, and sustainability experts to create actionable guidance for portfolio decarbonization. The initiative supports the insurance industry's role in financing the global transition to sustainable economies while managing climate-related risks. 

The guide includes practical tools for measuring portfolio carbon intensity, setting science-based targets, and implementing transition strategies across diverse insurance product lines. This launch represents a significant advancement in sustainable finance infrastructure, enabling insurance companies to align their underwriting practices with the goals of the Paris Agreement while maintaining financial performance and risk management standards.