Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Unequal Protection: An Environmental Justice Perspective on Wildlife Insurance Access in Los Angeles, USA

Schneider, Silvio Christian LU (2025) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20251
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
Wildfire risk has been increasing in recent decades due to both climate change and the expansion of human settlement into fire-prone areas. Following the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires in Los Angeles, USA, this thesis investigates the contributions of wildfire insurance to adaptation and recovery processes, and if homeowners have equal access to insurance. Using environmental justice theory, a case study approach combines a systematic review of academic and grey literature with a secondary data analysis of two Los Angeles ZIP codes. The findings indicate that insurance is crucial for recovery, but widespread underinsurance and unaffordability can exacerbate existing inequalities. Furthermore, the data reveals that homeowners in the... (More)
Wildfire risk has been increasing in recent decades due to both climate change and the expansion of human settlement into fire-prone areas. Following the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires in Los Angeles, USA, this thesis investigates the contributions of wildfire insurance to adaptation and recovery processes, and if homeowners have equal access to insurance. Using environmental justice theory, a case study approach combines a systematic review of academic and grey literature with a secondary data analysis of two Los Angeles ZIP codes. The findings indicate that insurance is crucial for recovery, but widespread underinsurance and unaffordability can exacerbate existing inequalities. Furthermore, the data reveals that homeowners in the high-income, predominantly White ZIP code access FAIR Plan insurance more easily than in the lower-income, racially diverse neighbourhood. The study calls for redistributive policy, which could include targeted subsidies and transparency regulations, to create more inclusive recovery mechanisms. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Schneider, Silvio Christian LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
disaster insurance, wildfire recovery, environmental justice, socioeconomic inequality, homeowners’ insurance access, Los Angeles, sustainability science
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2025:007
language
English
id
9191703
date added to LUP
2025-06-03 10:25:26
date last changed
2025-06-03 10:25:26
@misc{9191703,
  abstract     = {{Wildfire risk has been increasing in recent decades due to both climate change and the expansion of human settlement into fire-prone areas. Following the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires in Los Angeles, USA, this thesis investigates the contributions of wildfire insurance to adaptation and recovery processes, and if homeowners have equal access to insurance. Using environmental justice theory, a case study approach combines a systematic review of academic and grey literature with a secondary data analysis of two Los Angeles ZIP codes. The findings indicate that insurance is crucial for recovery, but widespread underinsurance and unaffordability can exacerbate existing inequalities. Furthermore, the data reveals that homeowners in the high-income, predominantly White ZIP code access FAIR Plan insurance more easily than in the lower-income, racially diverse neighbourhood. The study calls for redistributive policy, which could include targeted subsidies and transparency regulations, to create more inclusive recovery mechanisms.}},
  author       = {{Schneider, Silvio Christian}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{Unequal Protection: An Environmental Justice Perspective on Wildlife Insurance Access in Los Angeles, USA}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}