Paris, 5th October 2021 – Today, Reclaim Finance, members of the Insure Our Future network, and other social movements sent an open letter to insurers of energy network operator Gasunie, the company planning to build a liquified natural gas (LNG) terminal in Brunsbüttel, Northern Germany.
The letter was sent to Munich Re, AXA, HDI / Talanx, Zurich Insurance Group, AIG Europe, SCOR, Allianz, Chubb and Liberty Mutual, calling on them not to underwrite the proposed Brunsbüttel LNG terminal because it, and any other new or expanding fossil fuel projects, will lock the world into decades of additional greenhouse gas emissions, further fuelling the climate crisis.
To prevent catastrophic warming, fossil fuels should be phased out in line with a 1.5°C scenario. In the 2018 Special Report on Global Warmingfrom the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), model pathways with no or limited overshoot of 1.5°C of general warming effect, required emissions reductions of between 40% and 60% by 2030 compared with 2010 levels. Limiting warming to 1.5°C means a nearly 8% reduction in emissions each year until 2030. This year the IPCC issued a ‘code red for humanity’ in its sixth assessment, emphasising the global need to reduce emissions before it is too late. In May, the International Energy Agency (IEA) made clear that fossil fuel infrastructure and investment, including new oil and gas, must stop now to achieve a 1.5°C aligned scenario.
Lindsay Keenan, European Coordinator, Insure Our Future: “If insurers take their commitments to the Paris Agreement seriously, and continue to claim they are leading the industry’s race to net-zero, they need to stop underwriting and investing in new oil and gas projects and phase out existing oil and gas insurance in line with a 1.5°C pathway.”
Lucie Pinson, Founder and Director, Reclaim Finance: “The IPCC’s recent ‘code red for humanity’ could not be any clearer –it is madness to build new fossil fuel projects that will lock the world into decades of additional greenhouse gas emissions and further fuel climate breakdown. All insurers of Gasunie need to show they take climate science seriously, and rule out insurance for the proposed Brunsbüttel LNG terminal. In particular, given that AXA has led the insurance industry’s exit from coal, it’s time for the French insurance giant to now lead on oil and gas.”
Regine Richter, Campaigner, urgewald: “Zurich, Allianz, AXA and Munich Re remain four of the world’s top oil and gas insurers despite co-founding the Net Zero Insurance Alliance. These insurers need to urgently live up to their climate commitments and lead the insurance industry’s exit from all new oil and gas expansion. Ruling out support for yet another underused and contested LNG terminal like Brunsbüttel would be an important first step on the way out of oil and gas insurance.”
Sofia Rodriguez, Parents for Future Berlin: “As parents we are aware of our responsibility to do our best to protect our children’s future. It is heartbreaking to see Corporations and governments ignoring all science and pushing ahead with new Fossil Fuel infrastructure. It is more than troubling to see Insurance companies underwriting and therefore supporting such endeavours. We fervently ask them to stay away from these backwards, destructive projects and to embrace the future in the form of renewable energy and a safe climate.”