The "Iowa Effect": Insurance and Climate Change with New York Times Reporter Christopher Flavelle

The "Iowa Effect": Insurance and Climate Change with New York Times Reporter Christopher Flavelle will take place on Friday, February 14th, 2025 from 12:45 PM to 1:45 PM in the Boyd Law Building.

Join the Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative at the University of Iowa College of Law for a discussion with New York Times climate reporter Christopher Flavelle and Martin Grace, the Faculty Director of the Vaughan Institute at the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business, about insurance markets in a changing climate.

Christopher Flavelle has been writing about the impacts of climate change on insurance markets for years. In May of 2024, Christopher reported on a recent trend in insurance coverage, calling it the “Iowa effect,” wherein even in formerly low-risk places like Iowa, insurers are raising insurance premiums, restricting coverage, or simply leaving. Attention to this trend is critical as climate disasters increase in frequency and size.

Martin Grace is the Clement T. and Sylvia Hanson Family Chair at the Tippie College of Business. Martin’s research expertise covers a wide range of risk management and insurance topics, including the impact of catastrophic events on insurance companies and thinking about new ways of insuring for catastrophes that provides customers with the coverage they need while protecting the financial viability of insurers.

This event will be moderated by Shannon Roesler, Charlotte and Frederick Hubbell Professor of Environmental and Natural Resources Law at Iowa Law. It is co-sponsored by the Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative and the Vaughan Institute.

Food and beverages will be provided for those attending the in person event and register in advance. 

This event has been approved for continuing legal education (CLE) credit, which means that the one (1) hour spent in continuing legal education activities incorporated in this accredited program may be credited against the continuing legal education requirement of fifteen (15) clock hours per year, established by Rules 41.3 and 42.2 of the Iowa Supreme Court. Reference Activity Number: 420948.