A leading World Bank insurance expert has said that public-private partnerships (PPPs) offered insurance companies huge opportunities in dealing with the threat of climate change.

Eugene Gurenko told the Insurance Times Insuring Climate Change Conference this week: “Insurance is more and more seen as an important climate change adaptation tool by affected governments and individuals, which enhances business opportunities for insurers.”

Gurenko, who is lead insurance and risk management specialist at the World Bank, added: “The creation of public-private partnerships in weather-catastrophe insurance may be an effective way to reduce financial vulnerability of businesses and households to climate change.”

But David Crichton, visiting professor at Benfield Hazard Research, warned that insurers were slow to focus on new developments in the insurance climate change market.

He said: “Insurers bleat on about spending on flooding defences, but there are alternatives, but insurers are not financing these alternatives.”

The full report on the conference is available online from 25 October

The 2025 Insurance Times Awards took place on the evening of Wednesday 3rd December in the iconic Great Room of London’s Grosvenor House.

Hosted by comedian and actor Tom Allen, 34 Gold, 23 Silver and 22 Bronze awards were handed out across an amazing 34 categories recognising brilliance and innovation right across the breadth of UK general insurance.
Many congratulations to all the worthy winners and as always, huge thanks to our sponsors for their support and our judges for their expertise.