Other Swiss Re publications

Forestry insurance: A largely untapped potential

Forests are a vital resource for life on our planet but remain largely uninsured today. Swiss Re believes the re/insurance industry can make a big difference for forestry stakeholders by helping them close the protection gap with viable forest management solutions.

Winter storms in Europe: messages from forgotten catastrophes

This publication analyses severe weather events in the late 19th century and their potential impact on insurance today.

Keeping tabs on the typhoon threat

Smart modelling can help China strengthen its resilience to typhoon risk. In this publication, Swiss Re NatCat experts describe a modelling approach that could offer Hong Kong and Shanghai a way of preparing more systematically for natural disasters.

Small quakes, big impact: lessons learned from Christchurch

Discover how a small aftershock in Christchurch, NZ – a city not considered an earthquake hotspot – triggered one of the largest insurance losses ever. Our report points to soil liquefaction as a contributing factor and considers the potential for similar scenarios in Tianjin, Jakarta, Vancouver and Singapore.

The big one: The East Coast’s USD 100 billion hurricane event

With its exceptional size, perpendicular track to the coast and record-breaking low pressure, Sandy is generally regarded as a 1-in-500-year event. The storm offered many new lessons to modellers, underwriters and coastal communities, but it should not be the only catastrophe benchmark in the quest for improved resiliency. This publication draws on hurricanes of greater magnitude to paint a scenario that will help plan for the future.

Sub-Saharan Africa – breadbasket for a growing population

Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa are heavily exposed to weather-related events like flood or drought. If they are hit by a natural catastrophe, they often abandon their land. Insurance can help to keep farmers in business and contribute to a more resilient society.

The risk of tropical cyclones in Brazil

Ten years after the first tropical cyclone ever recorded in the South Atlantic, we investigate the possibility and potential impact of another event like it. The study by Swiss Re and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) explores the main atmospheric conditions that lead to the development of tropical cyclones in the South Atlantic.

Building a sustainable energy future: risks and opportunities

With an expanding population and world economy powered by oil, coal and gas, fossil fuels have become a large part of our daily lives. But this has come at a price: greenhouse gas emissions, which adversely affect our climate. How much higher will this price rise before we achieve a more sustainable energy system?

Mind the risk: A global ranking of cities under threat from natural disasters

This publication provides a comprehensive analysis of natural disaster risk in locations around the world.

A mature market: Building a capital market for longevity risk

A capital market for longevity risk could help address the challenges of funding longer lives. Such a market would form part of an overall solution involving the cooperation and innovation of the public and private sectors to ensure that we continue benefiting from our ageing societies.

Flood – an underestimated risk: Inspect, inform, insure

Floods affect more people worldwide than any other type of natural disaster. But the risk from flooding is often underestimated. In many countries, flood insurance is not widely available or affordable.

sigma: the series

For more than three decades, the sigma series has been a trusted source of market information for managers and specialists in direct insurance companies worldwide. To ensure a truly global readership, sigma appears in six languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Japanese and Chinese.