Addressing effects of climate change on homeowners insurance

As North Carolina grapples with the escalating impacts of climate change, a stark reality emerges: our working families, mountain folk, communities of color, low-income households, and senior citizens are bearing the brunt of this crisis. The increasing frequency of severe weather events — from hurricanes to floods and wildfires — poses not just a threat to our environment but to the very fabric of equitable society.

As the Democratic candidate for the North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance, I propose an urgent initiative: the formation of an emergency task force dedicated to addressing the disproportionate effects of climate change on insurance for our most vulnerable populations.

To lead this task force, I’ll appoint the first-ever Senior Deputy Commissioner for Climate Change and Insurance. The necessity for a senior leader solely focused on climate change and to lead the task force is clear. Climate change exacerbates existing inequities, leaving marginalized communities more exposed and less resilient in the face of disaster. These groups often reside in areas more prone to environmental hazards, in housing less equipped to withstand extreme weather, and with limited resources to recover from loss. The result is a vicious cycle of vulnerability, where the ability to secure and afford insurance becomes increasingly out of reach for those who need it most.