If being unable to insure your home isn’t a wake-up call about climate crisis, I don’t know what is | Arwa Mahdawi

The rising incidence of wildfires means many Californians can no longer insure their property. It's a sign of what's ahead for the whole housing market

Insurance company documents aren't exactly renowned for being riveting reading. This week, however, State Farm, the largest insurance firm in the US by premium volume, came out with an eyeball-grabbing update: it has stopped accepting new homeowner insurance applications in California.

In a statement, the company said the decision was based on the heightened risk of natural disasters, such as wildfires, along with historic increases in construction costs.