According to Swiss Re's research department, the insurance industry's estimated losses from natural disasters dropped sharply in the first half of 2026, but the risk posed by wildfires and weather events is still very high. The Swiss Re Research Institute warned on Tuesday that the risk of wildfires is the fastest-growing weather disaster in the world. The agency also said that record high temperatures and dry weather in June increased the possibility that Europe will usher in an active wildfire season. “Recent wildfires in Europe highlight that hotter, drier weather is making large-scale wildfires more likely, and as more homes, businesses, and infrastructure are being built in areas with high risk exposure, the damage caused by disasters is also heavier,” said Bartz Grolimond, head of catastrophe risk at Swiss Re. According to data from the Swiss Re Research Institute, in the first half of 2026, insurance losses due to natural disasters were estimated at 42 billion US dollars, down from 91 billion US dollars in the same period last year. The agency said this figure was the lowest level in the first half of the year since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and is also 16% lower than the 10-year average of 50 billion US dollars. The agency said that fewer losses from natural disasters in the first half of the year do not necessarily mean that the whole year will be calmer, as insured losses are usually concentrated more in the second half of the year due to the impact of the North Atlantic hurricane season.
Zhitongcaijing · 1d ago
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According to Swiss Re's research department, the insurance industry's estimated losses from natural disasters dropped sharply in the first half of 2026, but the risk posed by wildfires and weather events is still very high. The Swiss Re Research Institute warned on Tuesday that the risk of wildfires is the fastest-growing weather disaster in the world. The agency also said that record high temperatures and dry weather in June increased the possibility that Europe will usher in an active wildfire season. “Recent wildfires in Europe highlight that hotter, drier weather is making large-scale wildfires more likely, and as more homes, businesses, and infrastructure are being built in areas with high risk exposure, the damage caused by disasters is also heavier,” said Bartz Grolimond, head of catastrophe risk at Swiss Re. According to data from the Swiss Re Research Institute, in the first half of 2026, insurance losses due to natural disasters were estimated at 42 billion US dollars, down from 91 billion US dollars in the same period last year. The agency said this figure was the lowest level in the first half of the year since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and is also 16% lower than the 10-year average of 50 billion US dollars. The agency said that fewer losses from natural disasters in the first half of the year do not necessarily mean that the whole year will be calmer, as insured losses are usually concentrated more in the second half of the year due to the impact of the North Atlantic hurricane season.
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