Insure Our Survival
Insurance is the Achilles' Heel
HISTORY
There has been growing momentum calling for insurance companies to bring their actions in line with their climate commitments and ethics statements for many years. Some of these calls came from unions and groups within the industry, and others from external organisations such as Insure Our Future.
Insure Our Survival launched as a distinct campaign within Extinction Rebellion towards the end 2024, bringing a direct action element to the table by dramatically disrupting the annual insurance awards bash at the Royal Albert Hall. This was the beginning of being a distinct campaign brought more organisational autonomy.
Following actions as part of initial Insure Our Survival campaigns there have been several major wins as companies hear reason and buckle to pressure. In particular, both Chubb and Probitas ruled out insuring the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). Probitas further ruled out the (now-cancelled) West Cumbria Coal Mine in England. Every win makes profiting from genocide and ecocide harder.
As well as the initial actions in the UK, global solidarity actions grew in particular across the rest of Europe and in Africa, reflecting a growing individual voice, strength, and identity. Because of this, in spring 2025, Insure Our Survival became a stand-alone organisation. As we built our strength, we continued working with XRUK during the recent waves of actions and we are deeply grateful for their support and resources. Now it is time to launch as an independent campaign.
This change will see Insure Our Survival continue to expose insurers’ role in profiting from the interconnected struggles against genocide and climate collapse in the UK and across the globe. IOS has so far supported over 150 actions targeting the insurance industry and we profoundly appreciate all of the amazing volunteers who helped make them happen. From here, we look forward to connecting with new allies across the global ecosystem of change as well as strengthening our existing ties.
our focus
remains clear
boycott, blockade and build pressure until insurers stop backing fossil fuels, arms and
war
crimes.