Assurance des risques naturels en France : sous quelles conditions les assureurs peuvent-ils inciter à la prévention des catastrophes naturelles ?

Natural risks have major impact on our daily life and on our national, local and individual economy. In the framework of the sustainable development, consistent and effective means of prevention have to be set up. The risk recognition is one of the main factors affecting economic decisions, such as insurance subscribing and prevention actions. Every effective mean of prevention is reducing damages, insurance costs and thus, the cost for the whole society. Could insurance create good incentives to prevention ? After describing briefly natural risks and their economic impacts in France and the corresponding means of prevention, we describe the natural risk insurance in France and explain the links between the different insurance policies. We have chosen to assess the French natural disasters insurance system. After setting up its statement of 26 years of existence, we focus on the link between insurance and prevention. The reform of this system is in progress and the link between insurance and prevention is a key question. Besides, climate change is questioning the system equilibrium and sustainability. How to make from insurance an effective economic incentive to prevention?