The Bank of England has written to about 30 insurers requesting assessments of how climate change may affect their business models.

The letter hints at possible regulation in relation to global warming, according to UK media reports.

The bank launched the survey to help a government climate assessment and will hand its findings to the environment department next year.

Experts warn rising temperatures will lead to more frequent extreme weather. Insurers face rising claims costs and are further exposed by increasingly vulnerable investment assets.

A recent report by advocacy group Ceres says US insurers are mostly unprepared for climate change.