Climate Change: Potential Liabilities for Business, Directors, Trustees and Insurers

As Chair of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries Resource and Environment Board, I would like to invite you to the Board’s seminar “Climate Change: Potential Liabilities for Business, Directors, Trustees and Insurers” on Wednesday 13 April 2016 from 17:30 – 19:30 at Staple Inn Hall, High Holborn, London, WC1V 7QJ.

The PRA’s September 2015 report identified climate change related litigation as a major risk area for insurers. Businesses which are extractors, suppliers or heavy users of fossil fuels – the main source of the greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions that cause climate change – are clearly at risk from litigation.  This could relate to third party damages arising from climate change itself or poor business performance due to measures (such as carbon taxes) aimed at reducing GHG emissions.

In this seminar we will focus on the potential exposure to litigation faced by such businesses, their directors, the fund managers and trustees who invest in such businesses, and the insurers of all of these parties.

Our four distinguished speakers Professor Myles Allen, Oxford University, Richard Lord QC, Chris Warrior, Hiscox London Market and Alice Garton, ClientEarth will consider the following aspects:

• The scientific link between GHGs, climate change and extreme weather events
• The legal exposure of businesses, their directors and insurers
• Related practice and developments in insurance for directors
• The prospects for such litigation, from the perspective of an environmental lawyer.

These presentations will be followed by a panel session when you will have the opportunity to put your questions. The evening will end with a networking session over drinks.

Please rsvp by sending an email to Elisa Elschner at elisa.elschner@actuaries.org.uk by 6 April 2016.