As Britain undergoes its latest political drama it is worth
remembering that, half the world away, Australia has just emerged
from what many called its "climate change election".
Whilst it saw some outlying results, such as former Prime
Minister Tony Abbott losing his seat to an independent, Zali
Steggall, who had put climate change front and centre of her
campaign, overall it saw voters reject parties running on a
pro-climate agenda. It is fair to say it was not the transformative
result many expected with most pundits, and even Northern
Territory's famed 'psychic crocodile' Burt, stumped.1
Australia's relationship with the climate is contradictory;
its greenhouse gas emissions per capita are higher than Britain or
France, yet it is among the global frontrunners in its renewable
energy adoption.2 One certainty is that as Australia shifts
into new and alternative methods to meet its power needs, the risks
to which insurers are exposed are shifting in subtle and
