Former US Vice-President Al Gore will discuss climate change and global risk before an audience including dozens of representatives of the Bermuda insurance industry.

Mr. Gore (pictured), whose film “An Inconvenient Truth” won the 2007 Academy Award for Best Documentary, will be the keynote speaker at Marsh Inc.’s client breakfast at the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) in New Orleans on May 1.

Marsh, a company owned by the world’s leading insurance brokers Marsh and McLennan, expects more than 800 of its clients and employees to attend the invitation-only event.

“Climate change has emerged as a top concern of business and government leaders around the world,” said Brian Storms, chairman and chief executive officer of Marsh. “We’re honoured that former Vice-President Al Gore will join our breakfast gathering and share his perspective and insights on this and other global issues with our clients, who manage risks for a vast spectrum of business enterprises and public entities around the world.”

Climate change has come to the fore in the insurance industry in recent years.

Lloyd’s of London chairman Peter Levene said in January this year that climate change is the “No. 1” issue for the world’s biggest insurance market because of the unpredictability and cost of potential weather-related claims.

“In 2005 we paid out $6 billion for the hurricanes and it was getting on for $60 billion for the industry, which is unheard of. Last year, nothing,” Lord Levene said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “Climate change is definitely there.”

Six of the ten worst storms in history — by insurers’ estimations, have come in the past three years. Climate change has been put forward as a possible factor.

Risk estimation computer models used by the industry have built in an increased probability of intense storms over the next few years.

Mr. Storms added it was significant that Mr. Gore would be speaking in New Orleans, a city still recovering from the effects of the deadly Hurricane Katrina of 2005.