Three top insurers push back on demand to stop underwriting fossil fuels

An investor in the major insurance companies Chubb, The Hartford, and Travelers Companies has called for the insurers to drop underwriting new fossil fuel projects, but all three are pushing back.

Environmental investment advisor Green Century Capital Management filed resolutions which called for the three insurers and their respective board of directors to “adopt and disclose new policies to help ensure that its underwriting practices do not support new fossil fuel supplies, in alignment with the International Energy Agency (IEA)’s Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario.”

However, Chubb, The Hartford, and Travelers Companies have each filed no-action requests with the SEC.

In its request, Chubb mentioned that its current policy is to restrict insurance for new coal projects. But environmentalists argue that Chubb remains one of the world’s largest insurers of oil and gas expansion, pointing to Chubb’s backing of a massive expansion of offshore oil drilling in Brazil. It was also contended that Chubb is dropping clients in California affected by climate change-driven wildfires.

Both The Hartford and Travelers also mentioned their coal and tar sands exclusion policies, but remain some of the top fossil fuel insurers in the world.

Read more: Travelers announces new climate policy – environmental groups react

On top of the SEC filings, Chubb and Travelers have also challenged another set of resolutions filed by the shareholder advocacy firm As You Sow, which request a plan for the insurers’ emissions reductions.

“Investors are demanding that insurance companies stop supporting the rampant expansion of fossil fuels that is driving the climate crisis. They are part of a growing shareholder movement calling on companies to align their business with a 1.5ºC pathway,” said Rainforest Action Network senior energy campaigner Elana Sulakshana. “But instead of taking concrete action to limit fossil fuel insuring and investing, Chubb, Travelers, and The Hartford are trying to silence their shareholders and continue business as usual.”