Climate activists rallied outside the Travelers Championship golf tournament in Cromwell, Connecticut, on June 22, 2022, to protest Travelers Insurance’s continued support for the fossil fuel industry. The demonstration, organized by local groups and the Insure Our Future coalition, brought attention to Travelers’ role as a major insurer of oil and gas projects and demanded the company take immediate action to address climate change.
Approximately 50 protestors from Connecticut Citizen Action Group, Sierra Club Connecticut, and the Insure Our Future Coalition marched near the TPC River Highlands golf course, carrying signs and banners with slogans like “Travelers underwrites climate change!” and calling on the insurance giant to drop fossil fuel coverage. The vibrant protest was amplified by the presence of Hartford’s Proud Drill Drum and Dance Corp, adding a dynamic element to the activists’ message.
Travelers Insurance is under increasing pressure due to its significant involvement in insuring the fossil fuel industry. Despite being a major player in the insurance market, Travelers has not implemented formal policies to restrict its support for oil and gas projects, excluding even the highly controversial tar sands. Activists emphasize that Travelers ranks among the top three insurers for the oil and gas sector, highlighting a stark contrast with the growing global consensus on climate action.
Ann Gadwah, Organizer with Sierra Club Connecticut, stated, “Travelers is one of the largest oil and gas insurers globally, with substantial investments in fossil fuel companies exceeding $3.5 billion. It’s imperative for Travelers to align with leading insurers by making concrete commitments to cease underwriting and investing in fossil fuel projects that exacerbate climate change.”
Tom Swan, Executive Director of CCAG, further emphasized the urgency, “The passionate voices of young people at today’s protest serve as a powerful reminder that Travelers must take decisive and swift action to stop enabling climate destruction. Continued investment in and insurance of fossil fuels is indefensible. The message is clear – fossil fuels are outdated. We urge Travelers to act now, for the sake of these young people and future generations.”
The protest follows recent investor challenges to Travelers’ climate policies. Last month, the company faced unprecedented investor pressure with two climate-related resolutions on the ballot at its annual general meeting on May 25th, one of which successfully passed. This indicates a growing shareholder concern regarding Travelers’ climate stance and a desire for more responsible environmental practices.
In comparison to Travelers, a growing number of major global insurers – ten in total – have adopted policies restricting insurance for new oil and gas projects. Furthermore, thirteen insurers have specifically restricted coverage for oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, an area of particular concern for environmentalists and Indigenous communities. Travelers’ lack of action on Arctic oil and gas has drawn criticism from Indigenous leaders in the Arctic region.
Bernadette Demientieff, Executive Director of the Gwich’in Steering Committee, expressed her disappointment, “Travelers persistently ignores the concerns of the Gwich’in people of the Arctic. Their continued disregard for our valid concerns, our plea to protect the Arctic Refuge, and the degradation of our homelands’ ecosystems due to climate change – fueled by fossil fuels – is deeply troubling. Travelers is contributing to the suffering and anxiety experienced by our communities.”
The activists underscore that U.S. property and casualty insurers, like Travelers, are lagging behind their international counterparts in addressing climate change and reducing support for fossil fuels. This inaction undermines global efforts within the insurance industry to combat the climate crisis. The U.S. insurance sector is critical due to its significant share of global oil and gas underwriting, effectively enabling the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure at a time when climate science demands a rapid transition away from these fuels.
This rally marks the third consecutive year of protests outside the Travelers Championship, demonstrating sustained and growing pressure on the company. The event was jointly organized by Connecticut Citizen Action Group, Sierra Club CT, and the Insure Our Future Coalition. For further information or to connect with representatives involved in the protest, contact Helen Humphreys at 860-202-3731 or [email protected].
Connecticut Citizen Action Group, founded in 1971, empowers Connecticut residents to address consumer, environmental, economic, and social justice issues. As part of the Insure Our Future coalition, CCAG holds Connecticut-based insurance companies accountable for their role in the climate crisis and advocates for divesting from the fossil fuel industry. Visit ccag.net for more information.
Insure Our Future in the U.S. is a coalition of environmental, consumer protection, and grassroots organizations dedicated to holding the U.S. insurance industry responsible for its contribution to the climate crisis. It is part of the global Insure Our Future campaign, promoting a swift shift away from fossil fuel support within the insurance industry and towards a clean energy economy. Learn more at insureourfuture.us and insureourfuture.co.
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