Insurers' carbon underwriting policies

Insurance companies can influence the net-zero transition by limiting coverage for carbon-intensive projects. We study the adoption, structure, and effects of carbon underwriting policies among the world’s largest insurance groups. Using novel mine-level insurance data, we show that insurers with coal policies reduce the number of insured mines by approximately 16%, insured coal volumes by 56%, and make continued coverage significantly less likely. Implementation is often incomplete, and some insurers expand coverage despite commitments. Affected mines tend to reduce output, cut the number of employees, and are more likely to be idled in subsequent periods.

Joint work with Felix von Meyerinck and Zacharias Sautner.