Climate Change Insurance and Disasters: Is the Shenzhen Social Insurance Program a Model for Adaptation?

Abstract

As one of the most disaster-prone nations, China is grappling with creating effective adaptation strategies. In an effort to pool risk, Chinese officials are introducing new climate change insurance products. This Article describes one pilot product introduced in the City of Shenzhen, a global mega-city with a population of approximately fifteen million, and explores its strengths and weaknesses as a model for adaptation to climate change. This Article concludes with proposals for reducing risk within mega-cities and pooling risk among them.