Zurich says its Flood Resilience Alliance will become the Climate Resilience Alliance as it widens its focus to encompass more impacts of global heating and advocacy for adaptation.

The alliance, supported by the Z Zurich Foundation, will feature the same nine members including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Mercy Corps and the London School of Economics. It will work to support climate adaptation models, assess resilience in vulnerable communities worldwide and implement solutions for climate hazards.

Z Zurich Foundation head Gregory Renand says the alliance has already helped more than 3 million people in affected communities since 2018.

“The advocacy work of the Alliance influenced an increase in resilience spending of more than $US1.25 billion ($1.87 billion),” he said.

“Now we are expanding our focus beyond floods to tackle additional climate hazards such as heatwaves, wildfires and storms ... this broadened scope reaffirms our unwavering commitment to creating a more resilient future for vulnerable communities around the globe.” 

Zurich chief sustainability officer Linda Freiner says the alliance has shown “the power of collaboration and innovation”, and with a widened focus it will have more influence.  

“The urgency of the climate crisis requires that we accelerate our collective efforts, leveraging the lessons learnt and the collaborations forged to drive even greater impact,” she said. 

“The next decade is crucial, and I am confident that together, we can achieve the ambitious goals necessary to secure a sustainable future for generations to come.”