All industries are contributing to climate change. They drill, burn, pollute. But insurance? It’s different. It can actually fight back.
How? By changing where it puts its huge piles of cash. If there is enough demand, insurers will shift their money out of harmful industries. Away from fossil fuels. Into things of renewables, conservation, and sustainability.
It’s a game-changer. And you? You are more powerful than you think you are.
How Insurance Cash Works Behind the Scenes
Life insurance does more than financially protect your family. It’s also a massive investment vehicle. When you pay your premiums, insurance companies do not simply park that cash. They invest it.
And where does it go?
In practice much of it goes into oil, coal and gas. Ultimately, industries that cause climate change. Profitable industries.
But here’s the thing. If enough policyholders call for a better deal, insurers will respond. They have to. They depend on trust, reputation and customer demand.
The Shift: Withdrawals from Fossil-Burning
The concept of divestment isn’t new. Universities, pension funds, even some governments have begun pulling money out of fossil fuels. And it’s working.
Sharp outcomes, for instance, can reveal how insurance companies keep trillions of dollars of assets. What if they put at least part of that money into climate friendly investments? The impact would be massive.
Some insurers are already doing that. European companies, in particular, are at the forefront. But many still lag behind. They need a push. That push? And it begins with policyholders such as you.
How to make your policy work differently
Do you believe that your one policy doesn’t matter? Think again.
The industry changes when enough people call for a change. And it’s already happening.
What You Can Do:
Ask Your Insurer Where They Invest
There are differences between insurance companies. Others put money into renewable energy. Others? Not so much. Call them. Ask. If they tell you they can’t, that’s a red flag.
Switch to a Green Insurer
An increasing number of insurers are now providing eco-friendly policies. Some even pledge to invest only in sustainable industries. Do a little research. Choose one that most aligns with your values.
Spread the Word
The more people who get involved, the faster change happens. Tell friends, family, co-workers. The greater the number of people who switch, the greater the effect.
Support Policy Changes
Governments can also pressure insurers to improve transparency. Exact the accountability on policies that require disclosure on their investments. Sunshine reduces the dirty money: the less, the better.
The Bigger Picture
The fight against climate change is more than what we purchase or how we cast our votes. It’s also about where our money goes to bed at night.”
Insurance companies wield enormous amounts of money. More than most banks. More than most governments.
If they change course, industries change course. And the planet? It breathes a little easier.
A Future Worth Investing In
Imagine a world where every insurance dollar goes toward clean energy. Where your life insurance policy helps to reforest the Amazon Protects coral reefs. Builds wind farms.
That world? It’s possible. But only if we demand it.
Changing your policy might feel trivial. But small things add up.
And together? We can move mountains.
So what’s your life insurance doing? Fighting for the future? Or funding the past?
The choice is yours. And it matters.