AXA and Luiss are teaming up to analyze the political, social, and ethical challenges posed by climate change, as well as the role of insurance in the green transition. The new “AXA Research Lab on Climate Change, Risk and Justice” was unveiled. It is based at the University and headed by Prof. Gianfranco Pellegrino from the Department of Political Science.The lab is the result of a collaboration between Luiss, the AXA Research Fund (the AXA Group’s global philanthropic initiative), AXA Italia, and AXA Investment Managers. The goal is to analyze the regulatory, political, and moral dimensions of insurance against climate risks, actively contributing to the public debate with scientific evidence and concrete proposals for inclusive and sustainable climate justice. The research centers on three key questions:

1. How can the private and financial sectors contribute to a just transition toward a net-zero economy?
2. How can low-income communities be included in efforts to adapt to climate change?
3. What are the distributional impacts of climate change, and how can insurance help reduce inequalities?

 

During the launch event, Prof. Pellegrino’s keynote address on “Climate Change and the Ethics of Just Insurance” sparked a dialogue on how to build a fair and supportive insurance market capable of supporting the fight against climate change through inclusive protection models, green investments, and integrated public policies. The event featured institutional greetings from Paolo Boccardelli, Rector of Luiss, Lisanne Raderschall, Senior Partnerships and Development Manager at AXA Research Fund, and Federico Eichberg, Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy. It was followed by a roundtable discussion led by Giovanni Orsina, Director of the Luiss Department of Political Science. Maria Siclari, Director General of ISPRA; Letizia d'Abbondanza, Chief Customer and External Communication Officer at AXA Italia; Pietro Martorella, Co-Head of the Core Client Group at AXA IM; and Enrico Giovannini, Full Professor of Economic Statistics and Sustainable Development at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata” and Co-founder & Scientific Director of the Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development (ASviS). The Lab, which is expected to run for three years, aims to promote studies that can influence public policy, foster collaboration between the public and private sectors, and help bridge the growing climate protection gap in our societies.