March Letter from Our CEO

If you’ve been paying attention, you might have noticed something strange happening: a lot of words are disappearing. Or at least, they’re being rebranded. ESG, DEI, climate change—terms that once signaled serious commitments are now political lightning rods, prompting companies and institutions to quietly adjust their language. Even at Premiums for the Planet, we’ve had conversations about whether to say “fossil fuels” or shift to “carbon-intensive industries.” Whether to talk about “climate risk” or “financial stability.” Whether to frame our mission around sustainability or resilience, transition or transformation.

It's true, something is lost when we stop using certain words—especially for the communities those words were meant to uplift and protect. Language shapes visibility, and when terms like ESG or DEI fade, so can the recognition of the injustices they were created to address. My hope is that this is a short-term shift, not a permanent erasure.

But here’s the thing that might not be broadcast loudly enough yet: a name change doesn’t change the work.

Shifting vocabulary is a blip in the broader effort. The people doing the real work—whether they call it sustainability, risk management, or just plain common sense—haven’t stopped. And they won’t. A different label doesn’t erase the reality of rising risks, growing financial exposure, or the urgent need to shift capital toward solutions instead of destruction. Nor does it slow the inspiring, relentlessly dedicated people stepping up to do the hard work of leaving the world better than they found it.

At Premiums for the Planet, we’ve also evolved how we talk about this fight—not to soften the tone, but to strengthen our impact. We don’t single out those who aren’t yet aligned with our mission. Because in a system this complex, transformation requires collaboration. The same insurers and investors whose capital has fueled carbon-intensive industries are also the ones we depend on in our most vulnerable moments—and the ones with the power to accelerate the shift toward a more just and habitable world. That’s the conversation we want to be having. Not one about blame, but one about solutions.

If adapting our language helps us bring more people to the table, so be it. The goal isn’t to win a debate over terminology; it’s to win a better future. And we’re doing just that, with the support of leaders like you—leaders committed to action, no matter what words we use to describe it.

Thanks for being here. Let’s keep going.

Brad Stevenson

Founder & CEO