tailieunhanh - Insurance and Other Financial Services

The insurance industry is quite heterogeneous and the structure of the sector varies according to the prevailing level of economic development. 6 In fact, developed countries’ insurance sectors usually include life insurers, non-life insurers and reinsurers. These companies may be stand-alone enterprises or parts of groups or conglomerates, and they may conduct business internationally. Developing countries’ insurance providers, in turn, are smaller and generally do not engage in major international activities. There can also be differences between insurance institutions in a particular country or market segment. (For example, because of the wide range of risks to which they can be exposed,. | 8 Insurance and Other Financial Services PIER VELLINGA THE NETHERLANDS AND EVAN MILLS USA Lead Authors G. Berz Germany L. Bouwer The Netherlands S. Huq Bangladesh . Kozak USA J. Palutikof UK B. Schanzenbdcher Switzerland G. Soler Argentina Contributing Authors C. Benson UK J. Bruce Canada G. Frerks The Netherlands P. Huyck USA P. Kovacs Canada A. Olsthoom The Netherlands A. Peara USA S. Shida Japan Review Editor A. Dlugolecki UK CONTENTS Executive Summary 419 . Impacts and the Role of the Banking Industry 438 438 . Climate Change Impacts . Introduction 421 . Adaptation Issues 439 . The Role of UNEPFinancial Services . Climate Change and Extreme Events that are Initiatives in the Climate Change Debate 439 Relevant to the Financial Services Sector 421 . Present-Day Conditions 421 . Special Issues in Developing Countries 440 . Attribution Analyses of Loss Trends 422 . Statistics on Disasters 440 . Climate Events that are Relevant to . Disaster Relief 441 the Insurance and Other Financial . Natural Disasters and Development 441 Services Sectors 423 . Vulnerability and Financial Adaptation in Developing Countries 442 . Private and Public Insurance 427 . Major Market Segments . Issues that are Related to Property Casualty and Life Health 429 Funding for Adaptation 442 . Risk Sharing between the Private and Public Sectors 429 . Future Challenges and Research Needs 444 . Insurers Vulnerability and Capacity to Absorb Losses 431 Acknowledgments 445 . Quantifying Vulnerability and Adaptive Capacity 432 References 445 . Natural Catastrophes and Insurer Solvency 434 . Vulnerability of Reinsurers 434 . Regulatory Uncertainties 435 . Vulnerability of Local State and Federal Governments as Providers of Insurance and Relief Assistance 435 . Adaptation 435 . Adaptation Mechanisms Risk Spreading 436 . Adaptation Mechanisms Risk Reduction 437 .