Pro-environmental behaviour impacts and their relationship to insurance claim frequency through individual household and municipal-level analyses

Abstract

The primary objective of the research has been to determine the relationship between pro-environmental behaviour (PEB) and risk-mitigating behaviours. Chapter 2 approached the objective by comparing a direct measurement of individual household behaviours and motivations to insurance claim frequency scores. Chapter 3 approached the objective by measuring municipal actions based on milestones completed for carbon mitigation as an indirect proxy for pro-environmental behaviour at a municipal level. The milestone data was then compared to the same insurance claim frequency scores. The outcome of both studies did not identify a clear link between pro-environmental and risk-mitigating behaviour through behavioural spillover. Instead, Chapter 2 found that at a community level data resolution, age, income, education, or place of residence do not influence the PEBs of an individual. Also, Chapter 2 found that the intentions of an individual do not reflect their behaviour. Chapter 3 models did not show significant evidence of any relationship between the milestone data and the frequency of insurance claims for a municipality, indicating an absence of spillover. This study suggests that within the bounds of such a program, municipalities are experiencing either a lack of motivation for the initial behaviour or barriers to subsequent behaviours are too large. Considering both papers, in order to fully assess and understand the relationship between PEBs and risk-mitigating behaviour, additional research is necessary.