CWA 18349:2026

This CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA) gives guidance on a common ground for “nature-based insurance and investment solutions”, i.e. solutions which combine nature and ecosystem protection and restoration with disaster risk finance and harness the benefits of ecosystems to reduce the financial protection gap in the face of climate change and increasing damages and losses from extreme weather and climate events (climate extremes).
A main focus is on climate disaster risk reduction (DRR) through the protection, sustainable management and restoration of natural or modified ecosystems. DRR is especially material for insurance underwriters and financial investors. The CWA sets minimum expectations for these solutions in terms of economic and financial soundness and viability, environmental integrity, social value, ethical practice, and inclusive governance.
It aims to create the conditions for wider use of risk-financing mechanisms by harnessing the risk-reducing benefits of ecosystems. It sets out incentives and innovative financing instruments that serve two complementary goals:
a) to promote nature-based solutions that have proven effective and efficient in protecting assets and communities from climate extremes;
b) to restore and maintain valuable ecosystems and their multiple contributions to human welfare and resilience.