Lloyds of London gets an early Father’s Day present but not one it wanted

‘Super Dad’, supported by Mothers Rise Up – a group of concerned mums who campaign for action on climate breakdown – delivered a giant Father’s Day card and poem to Lloyd’s of London on Thursday 13 June as a gift to CEO John Neal in time for Father’s Day this weekend. It was over the insurance giant’s complicity in the climate crisis due to its huge fossil fuels underwriting.

Lloyd’s of London: superhero or climate villain?

Accompanied by a group of brightly dressed mini superhero children in capes, and mums, Super Dad presented the card and gift to Lloyd’s of London:

The card asks John Neal if he will be a climate hero and a super dad… or a climate villain:

Mothers Rise Up calls for Lloyd’s of London to cease insuring fossil fuel expansion, along with phasing down current insurance cover, in line with climate science.

The poem, Mum-Splaining The Apocalypse, was written by leading climate poet Liv Torc, and speaks of how to win back the future from profiteering fossil fuel companies, and the available clean, renewable energy solutions:

Insurance companies can be pivotal in accelerating a fair, rapid transition to a world powered by clean, renewable energy. Yet insurers in the Lloyd’s marketplace continue to insure and enable dangerous fossil fuel projects and continue oil and gas expansion.

Fossil fuel underwriters

Lloyd’s of London is the world’s biggest insurance market and the single largest source of fossil fuel insurance globally. Its members insure some of the most damaging fossil fuel projects in the world, such as oil and gas expansion in the North Sea and the Adani Coal Mine in Australia.

It has also refused to rule out insuring the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), which if built would be the world’s largest crude oil pipeline, destroying communities, livelihoods, and endangered wildlife in Uganda and Tanzania. Without insurance, these dangerous projects could not go ahead.

In line with the science-led recommendations of the International Energy Agency, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and António Guterres – the UN secretary-general, insurance companies must cease underwriting fossil fuel expansion and phase down current underwriting for fossil fuels.

Mothers Rise Up’s Lorna Powell said:

Today we are delivering a giant card and a crucial Father’s Day message to John Neal, CEO of Lloyd’s of London, the mega fossil fuel insurance marketplace: be a climate hero or continue enabling the fossil fuel industry at the expense of our children and planet.

Fossil fuel companies represent a dying, destructive industry. We need insurers to turn away from polluting projects and supercharge the green energy revolution. Without insurance, new fossil fuel projects can’t go ahead. Many European insurers are starting to do the right thing. Yet Lloyd’s of London remains intent on propping up lucrative new fossil fuel deals, wreaking more and more climate chaos.

Our children deserve better. We will continue to demand insurers prioritise a safe future for children everywhere.

Feature image and additional images via Anna Gordon