From Bloomberg News: Disasters Are Costing Us More. Why Aren’t We Insuring More? Climate change and our insistence on building in high-risk areas may force us to reconsider whether our losses are natural or man-made.

Last year was the second-costliest year for disasters since 1970, according to a new analysis from reinsurance firm Swiss Re AG. Global economic losses from these events reached $337 billion in 2017, behind only 2011’s total losses, and less than 40 percent were insured. A close look at Swiss Re’s data reveals several worrying trends. Losses from natural and man-made disasters are increasing, markets are not getting better at insuring them, and our own choices aren’t helping.