Ricardo Lara

California Department of Insurance

Insurance Commissioner

https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0500-about-us/01-commissioner/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-lara-1784b816/

Description

Commissioner Lara oversees the largest insurance market in the United States and the fourth largest in the world, working to protect California consumers, combat climate change, and expand access to healthcare. In 2024, he introduced the Sustainable Insurance Strategy, the most significant insurance reform in 30 years, to address the state's insurance crisis. This historic agreement with consumers, fire experts, climate scientists, business leaders, and market experts promotes technology, ensures product availability, and stabilizes the market. Commissioner Lara has a proven track record as one of California’s most effective environmental champions. He has passed laws that foster innovation and investment in clean air, embrace equity, and protect natural infrastructure. He authored the nation’s first climate insurance law to safeguard Californians from climate-related disasters and co-chairs the executive task force on climate and resilience as part of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, which produced the first National Climate Resilience Strategy for Insurance. Engaging with the international insurance sector on climate risks, Commissioner Lara launched the first sub-national partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme to create a sustainable insurance roadmap. He is the recipient of the U.N. Climate and Clean Air Award for his pioneering work in developing California’s climate strategy to reduce super pollutants, including methane, HFCs, and black carbon.