Climate Risk & the Insurability Crisis
The hosts:
Laura Fox, Streetlife Ventures
What is this Ripple about?
Across both the United States and Europe, climate risk has rapidly moved from a future concern to a present-day financial reality. In the U.S., over $12 trillion in home values are projected to be at risk over the next 30 years, while major disasters—like two hurricanes in North Carolina causing $80 billion in damages—underscore the scale of immediate impact. Europe tells a parallel story: it has already experienced over €800 billion in climate-related losses since 1980, with a sharp acceleration in recent years. Critically, in both regions, much of this risk is uninsured or underinsured: only about 25% of losses in Europe are covered, and in the U.S., nearly 40 million homes face reduced insurance availability as insurers retreat from high-risk markets. This growing protection gap is not just a housing issue; it is hitting corporate balance sheets, public finances, and infrastructure systems. This Ripple will explore this problem area, and the technologies and approaches that can help us solve for these critical issues.
Why this topic timely or urgent in 2026
25% of homes are at risk of uninsurability (and rising), and homes represent the greatest single share (40%) of household savings. Beyond homes, this is also beginning to disrupt larger infrastructure investment areas, including energy infrastructure, commercial real estate, transportation networks, and more.
Key questions or challenges being explored
From what you’ve seen to date, what sectors feel the most urgent for future insurability, and what can we do about them as investors and founders
By sector, what is investable to help this issue - why/why not?
What partners need to be in place to make solutions scale in this space
The main tension or debate at the heart of this discussion
Short v long-term risk management, significant changes to the built environment v unlivable areas, etc.
Who would get the most value from attending this Ripple?
Investors, founders, corporates and family offices with real assets (real estate, energy, infrastructure), insurance firms