Insurers warn of growing climate damage

About $108 billion of that is insured damage. For the fourth year in a row, it is higher than 100 billion dollars. According to Munich Re, most of this damage is caused by extreme weather, such as severe storms, floods, heat waves and forest fires. Due to climate change, these types of weather conditions are becoming more frequent and intense. Storms and forest fires in particular cause a lot of damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure. In the Netherlands, for example, there is a greater chance of peak rainfall.

"Munich Re's damage figures show that extreme weather is lurking everywhere," says Vylon Ooms, policy adviser at the Dutch Association of Insurers. The financial consequences are major and affect governments, companies and citizens. "That is why it is important, and we also advocate this with politicians, to invest now in prevention and smart choices in spatial planning. That means: preventing damage as much as possible, instead of just repairing it afterwards."

The Netherlands also vulnerable
Although fortunately the Netherlands is not yet dealing with large-scale forest fires, our country is vulnerable to waterlogging, flooding and heavy rainfall. "We see this reflected in the damage figures of our Climate Damage Monitor, where the new one for 2025 will be published in May," says Ooms. "The weather is becoming more and more erratic, and fortunately the weather extremes were not too bad last year, but that may just be different this year," he warns. Because damage caused by extreme weather is also increasing in the Netherlands, only compensating damage afterwards is not enough. "And not wise either," Ooms emphasises. "It starts with preventing damage and if damage does occur, you want to limit it by taking measures. Climate-robust repair is more expensive than applying it in advance in new construction. Insurers can then adequately handle and repair the damage that does occur."

Water and soil leading in building and living
In this way, we can prevent damage caused by flooding or subsidence by taking water, soil and climate into account when building new homes and neighbourhoods. Insurers are also very much in favour of enshrining climate adaptation in building regulations. In order to make buildings more resistant to heat, heavy rain and storms. In addition, it is important to work with the government in the event of major climate risks, such as floods, so that insurers can settle the damage quickly and properly. This is safer for people, prevents high costs for residents, insurers and society as a whole.

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Klimaatmiddag 2026

• 05/03/2026
• Den Haag
• Event

Climate & sustainability