Insurer is the first to sign-up to climate change partnership
Gloucester-based Ecclesiastical is the first insurance company to make a financial commitment to one of the UK’s 10 regional Climate Change Impact Partnerships.
The partnerships are bodies set up to advise the public and private sector about how to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
The South West Climate Change Impacts Partnership (SWCCIP) was set up in 2001 to raise awareness of the impacts of climate change in the South West and help businesses, public bodies and other organisations to adapt their practices.
The SWCCIP is funded by the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group, Environment Agency, Government Office for the South West, South West Regional Assembly, South West Regional Development Agency and South West Water.
Neil Carrington, spokesman and SWCCIP executive member from Ecclesiastical, said: “In Gloucestershire following the summer floods, we are all too aware of the sort of potential impact we will see as a result of climate change. But the future isn’t all doom and gloom. If we take sensible and simple steps to change the way we work or the way we construct and adapt existing buildings for example, we can greatly reduce our impact on the environment and have confidence in the future. However, we must act now, every day we delay is adding to the potential risk we face.”
Alex Webb, SWCCIP Manager, said: “We are delighted Ecclesiastical Insurance has chosen to support SWCCIP. The insurance industry plays a crucial role in the climate change agenda. By working in partnership with SWCCIP we can help businesses, organisations and individuals prepare for and adapt to the impacts of climate change.”
