Climate change presents many risks for humanity as a whole, with extreme weather events impacting not only the external environment we live in, but also our short- and long-term health and longevity. And with every passing year, discussions around climate change — and its many potential consequences — move closer to the forefront of everyone’s minds. While climate change has previously been perceived as something that will only impact future generations, we are now increasingly feeling the effects of this global phenomenon, seen in the heightened frequency of extreme weather events.Until now, the insurance response to climate-related events has been largely focused on property and casualty (P&C) business lines, as people strove to rebuild properties and infrastructure affected by sudden extreme weather events. However, a new report by the Geneva Association reveals how climate change could also be greatly impacting human health and longevity — which could have a knock-on effect on health and life (H&L) insurance. How is climate change impacting human health?The effects of climate change on human health can be split into various categories, with the main examples being acute and chronic health risks. Acute risks include health emergencies directly caused by extreme weather events triggered by climate change. For instance, when a person’s injury, illness, or death is caused by a sudden climatic event, such as a wildfire or flood. One recent example is the 2019 Australian bushfires, which directly caused 417 fatalities, 1,305 emergency asthma cases, and 1,124 cardiovascular and 2,027 respiratory hospitalizations.On the other hand, chronic risks refer to a longer-term scale, with mortality and morbidity risks emerging from slow-changing climatic trends, such as worsening air pollution and rising global temperatures. There is overwhelming evidence examining the effects of climate change on chronic health, and one recent study of 3.7 million adults in California found that long-term exposure to air pollution was associated with an increased risk of cardiac arrests and heart disease. There is also a wealth of evidence to suggest sustained exposure to declining air quality can increase the incidence and severity of respiratory illnesses, type 2 diabetes, asthma and dementia. What impact will climate change have on Group Life Insurance?In response to the evidence surrounding climate-related health risks, the report from Geneva Association also discusses how health and life (H&L) insurance companies can manage these new risks while remaining accessible to those who need support the most — especially when we consider that people from lower socio-economic backgrounds and vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, are often disproportionately impacted by climate-related events.Research into the current impact of climate change on Group Insurance is limited. However, experts agree this may change in the long run as climate-related health risks become more prevalent. Most health and life insurance policies do not specifically cover climate-related health issues at present. This is because creating specific policies around climate change proves difficult, due to the unpredictable nature of extreme weather events, alongside the complications in isolating the exact cause of mortality or morbidity following a single climate event. While further research is needed to understand the risks, and what this may entail for Health and Life Insurance policies in the future, experts agree that the first step is to encourage greater awareness around climate change and to educate policyholders on how they can adopt healthy behaviors that align with climate-friendly practices (e.g. encouraging walking or cycling rather than driving). This education can also extend to informing people on how they can best protect themselves in the face of extreme weather events.How YuLife is responding to climate changeAt YuLife, we’re big on improving the health of people and the planet — we always focus on our impact before our earnings. In 2023, we became the first-ever Group Risk insurer to become B Corp certified, in recognition of our dedication to supporting the greater good of the world. Alongside supporting the everyday health and wellbeing of employees, our group health and life insurance policies improve the climate-positivity of your businesses too, by helping you to seamlessly embed ESG frameworks and keep track of the wider impact your operations have on the world around you. This is achieved through the YuLife app, where your employees can earn YuCoin through healthy, climate-positive habits, such as walking or cycling, which they can then donate to support various charitable causes, such as tree planting, feeding the hungry, and removing plastic from the oceans. YuLife also allows you to create a personalized wellbeing and ESG Hub for your organization and even provides data and insights to quantify the positive impact of the YuCoin donated by your employees. We also help businesses go through Earthly’s Climate Positive Business certification process, to help them gain recognition for their dedication to supporting the planet. At YuLife, we’re taking steps to improve our sustainability every day —and through our group life and Health Insurance policies and the YuLife app, we’re helping other businesses do the same. Find out more and request a demo for your team today.About YuLifeYuLife is working to reimagine the insurance industry by protecting lives, rewarding living and inspiring life. We’re on a mission to transform traditional insurance into a life-enhancing experience each employee will value and use daily. How does it work?Our award-winning app uses behavioral science and game mechanics to reward your people for living well while offering protection in case of crisis. And with our top-rated employee assistance program, your team gets access to mental, financial and social support, virtual GPs, nutritionists, life coaches and more to help them live their best lives.Because we believe that your employees should benefit from their insurance from day one — and that wellbeing should be accessible every day, for everyone.Request a demo for your team today.