The severe storms that affected many parts of Australia earlier this year have influenced brokers’ views on climate change, according to a new survey.

The survey compiled by Zurich Australia with the assistance of the National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) says nearly 40% of brokers feel the risks associated with climate change have increased.

It says this view has been influenced by brokers personally experiencing the severe storms that occurred in Australia earlier this year.

Nearly 75% of brokers responding to the survey said they have personally experienced an extreme weather event in their local area in the past six months.

Most had experienced violent storms, especially in WA and Victoria, while 40% of Queensland brokers have experienced floods.

Launching the survey at the NIBA Convention on the Gold Coast this afternoon, Zurich CEO David Smith said severe storms and flooding rain experiences increased in the past year, while droughts and bushfires decreased.

“Insurance is an industry where we personally live through weather-related disasters that hit our communities, and yet we need to rise above the situation when our customers need us most, to help people get their lives back on track,” he said.

The survey found a third of brokers are now more concerned about climate change than they were this time last year.

However, 61% of broker opinions on climate change hadn’t changed during the past 12 months and 6% were less concerned.

The survey also asked brokers how their clients felt about climate change, with 56% saying they think there has been no change of opinions.

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