Insurance Journal (4th Quarter 2020)

Guest Contribution
Christian Wertli
Head Infrastructure Solutions
SWISS Re
Sustainable
Infrastructure
The time is now
We will remember 2020 as the year
the world came to a halt. But the break
in relentless momentum has given us
pause for thought, and a chance to
redirect our efforts towards a more
sustainable and resilient future.
Infrastructure has a huge role to play
in that.
The infrastructure we build needs to
be environmentally sustainable and
resistant to the rising frequency and
severity of natural hazards. The
insurance industry has a role here,
taking these factors into account in
pricing and risk calculations.
“We truly believe infrastructure has
the power to be transformative,”
Veronica Scotti, Chairperson of
Public Sector Solutions at Swiss Re,
says. “But we are at a crossroads and
need to make a decision. It is a race
against time, but it's like the hare and
the tortoise – it's not just about
running really fast, but about getting
to the finishing line.”
That will mean taking a more
systematic and data-driven approach,
she adds. The insurance industry is
doing well and getting better at this
way of working and should now apply
it to support and drive forwards
infrastructure projects.
“Key now is the post-crisis recovery
and building economic resilience,”
says Jerome Jean Haegeli, Swiss Re
Group Chief Economist. “At the core
of it is the need for more long-term
and sustainable infrastructure. And
now is the year for ensuring a green
recovery – COVID-19 has an expiry
Insurance Journal October, November, December 2020
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