As part of the Climate Summit, the city of Montreal is announcing the creation of a strategic working group with the property and casualty insurance industry to accelerate the city's adaptation to the growing impact of extreme weather events.
The aim of the initiative is to better understand and anticipate emerging climate issues in Montreal, to explore concrete solutions to strengthen the resilience of built environments and communities, and to help citizens better prepare for and reduce risks.
This working group is being deployed within the framework of the Partenariat Climat Montréal, and will initially bring together representatives of the municipal administration, Intact Insurance, Desjardins Insurance, the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) and other partners concerned with urban resilience.
"Faced with the growing impacts of climate change and the repeated losses suffered by the population, a growing number of residents are turning to the City and their insurers for help. We want to strengthen the collaboration between the City and our partners in the insurance sector to mark a turning point in the way we plan for climate adaptation and better meet the needs of the population. I salute their commitment and their desire to contribute to better equipping our community to face the challenges of climate change," said Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montreal.
"Intact has been on the front line of the fight against climate change for over ten years. We see first-hand the consequences of the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events. We're determined to use our expertise to make a difference, mitigate risk and build resilient communities. We are proud to contribute to a more resilient future for Montreal," said Alain Fortin, Senior Vice-President, Intact Insurance, Quebec.
"Research shows that resilience and adaptation are key to protecting our homes and neighborhoods from the effects of extreme weather events. We are pleased to participate in the group, as it is crucial for Desjardins to collaborate with all stakeholders to address these challenges. Together, we can strengthen the resilience of our communities and prepare for a better future," said Valérie Lavoie, President and Chief Operating Officer, Desjardins General Insurance Group.
"Resilience is everyone's business, and local governments play a leading role in climate adaptation on their territory. Insurance Bureau of Canada applauds the City of Montreal's initiative and looks forward to working with municipal authorities, insurers and other players in urban resilience, to explore possible solutions to an issue that is affecting more and more Montrealers," said Laurent Fafard, Vice-President Quebec at IBC.
"Adapting to climate change requires the collaboration of all players. Partenariat Climat Montréal is proud to join forces with the Ville de Montréal and the insurance industry to set up an innovative working group aimed at increasing the urban resilience of our metropolis. Storm Debby in the summer of 2024, which caused nearly $2.5 billion in insured damage, reminds us of the importance of anticipating climate risks in order to limit the human and financial impacts of extreme weather events," added Sarah V. Doyon, Director of Partenariat Climat Montréal.
About the Partenariat Climat Montréal
The Partenariat Climat Montréal is an independent initiative that mobilizes the city's economic, philanthropic, labour, institutional and community forces to accelerate decarbonization and strengthen resilience. It acts as a platform for consultation and co-creation of concrete climate solutions.
SOURCE City of Montreal - Office of the Mayor and Executive Committee
