Sandy Trust FIA and Oliver Bettis FIA, co-authors of the IFoA’s Planetary Solvency series of reports, share findings from the latest papers, with a particular focus on how actuarial techniques can be applied to Earth system science and risk management.
They explore the implications of climate sensitivity – how sensitive global temperatures are to greenhouse gases. Higher-than-expected climate sensitivity means carbon budgets are overstated: more warming than expected, faster than expected. This has implications for tipping point risk in particular.
The speakers also look at opportunities for actuaries in this space. Actuaries have a professional toolkit for problems like this and must use it appropriately, helping scientists to communicate risk.
We’re also pleased to have an expert in this field Ms Cynthia Xi Yuan FIA as moderator.
Format
- Microsoft Teams webinar
- Delivery language: English
Fees
Free for IFoA members on a first-come-first-served basis
Speakers
Sandy Trust FIA, core author of the IFoA’s landmark climate risk research reports 'Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail' and 'Parasol Lost: Recovery plan needed'
Sandy is past chair of the IFoA Sustainability Board and sits on the International Actuarial Association’s Climate Change and Sustainability Committee. He is the lead author of a series of collaborative research reports which bring together science and risk, seeking to improve policymaker level risk management. ‘Planetary Solvency – finding our balance with nature’ explores how actuarial techniques can help society manage climate change and other risks.
This builds on the findings from ‘Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail’, which highlighted concerns around carbon budgets being unrealistic and ‘The Emperor’s New Climate Scenarios’, which highlighted the limitations of commonly used climate scenarios.
Sandy’s personal mission is to help re-connect finance and the economy to nature and the biosphere to deliver a future worth living in, he works with investors and advises a number of regulator and policymaker groups on these topics.
Moderator: Xi Cynthia Yuan, FIA (Director of the Climate Risk Research Center, China Re Group, Vice Chair of IAA’s Climate & Sustainability Committee)
Oliver Bettis FIA, core author of the IFoA’s landmark climate risk research reports 'Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail' and 'Parasol Lost: Recovery plan needed'
Oliver is the Environment Social Governance (ESG) Actuary for a UK subsidiary of a global insurance group. He has 3 decades of experience in the general insurance industry, initially in underwriting and consultancy before retraining as an actuary in the early 2000s.
He has a strong interest in climate change and economic theory and how these topics affect actuarial practice. He was the first chairperson of the IFoA Sustainability Board in 2013, served on the Research and Thought Leadership Board, and he currently co-chairs the Economics Member Interest Group. He is a member of the Advisory Committee of the Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity. Oliver was re-elected to IFoA Council in 2025 and is a member of IFoA Regulatory Board.
Xi Cynthia Yuan FIA, Director of the Climate Risk Research Center, China Re Group
Ms Xi Cynthia Yuan has over 20 years’ extensive experience in the actuarial field, both in the UK and China, ranging from areas of pricing and reserving to catastrophe, capital and asset liability modelling. She has established the first economic capital model for China Re Group. Cynthia has also acted as advisor for then CBIRC on C-ROSS and asset liability management regulation board.
She is a Fellow and former Council member of the IFoA. Cynthia is now the Vice Chair of IAA’s Climate and Sustainability Committee and a member of IAA’s CRFT. She supported the IFoA to establish the Climate Risk and Sustainability Course and participated in the climate change index subproject of New Data Initiative of IMF under the leadership of the People’s Bank of China. As a reinsurance actuary, Cynthia has experience in quantifying and mitigating physical risks.
Agenda
All times are GMT+8
- 16:00 to 16:05: Welcome and opening remarks
- 16:05 to 17:00: Joint presentation by Sandy Trust FIA and Oliver Bettis FIA
- 17:00 to 17:30: Interactive Q&A, group discussion and closing remarks
Contact us
We look forward to meeting you online. If you have further queries regarding the webinar, please contact china@actuaries.org.uk.
Pricing and booking information
| Members | Book for free |