EXCLUSIVE: 14 state AGs confront insurance giant for prioritizing climate activism

(The Center Square) – A 14-state coalition of attorneys general has sent Chubb Insurance a letter alleging the company may be violating Iowa consumer protection law by letting climate advocacy influence its agricultural underwriting decisions.

The letter, led by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, alleges that Chubb develops underwriting policy in partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund — which the letter describes as a "climate-activist organization with a significant presence in China" — and that the arrangement may harm farmers and ranchers who do not meet climate-related criteria.

"Based on its public statements, Chubb appears to use insurance underwriting to punish farmers and ranchers that do not meet climate-activist criteria," the letter states.

The attorneys general argue that such practices would constitute deception under the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act by concealing Chubb's climate-related underwriting criteria and any resulting violations of Iowa's unfair-discrimination and actuarially justified rate laws. They also argue the practices would cause "substantial, unavoidable injury to consumers that is not outweighed by any consumer or competitive benefits which the practice produces."

The letter requests that Chubb explain in detail its ties to climate advocacy organizations, including its EDF partnership. The attorneys general note that EDF "has disparaged U.S. agriculture as 'a climate disaster' and pushed banks to 'move toward net zero agriculture portfolios' that would necessarily cut off financial services to farmers and ranchers that do not comply."

In a statement, Chubb Insurance told The Center Square the characterizations made in the letter "are based on an incorrect assessment of the facts."

“Chubb has acknowledged receipt of the letter and believes the characterizations made do not reflect our record or our approach and are based on an incorrect assessment of the facts," the statement reads. "We look forward to the opportunity to engage directly with the Attorneys General to discuss the facts and demonstrate our commitment to the 120,000 farmers and 107 million acres we insure today.”

Bird told The Center Square that Iowa farmers "shouldn't have decisions on their insurance coverage be influenced by the goals of environmental activists."

"If an insurance company is imposing climate-related restrictions on its agriculture customers, that is bad for farmers and for Iowans that depend on them," Bird said.

Will Hild, executive director of consumer protection organization Consumers' Research, said Chubb "should be focused on providing fair, actuarially sound insurance" rather than "advancing a far left political agenda that threatens American agriculture and drives up prices for consumers."

Jason Isaac, CEO of the American Energy Institute, said the letter "exposes exactly what happens when corporations let climate activists set the rules — American farmers and consumers pay the price."

Last year, Consumers' Research raised similar concerns about Chubb's environmental and social governance practices, The Center Square reported.