ClimateTech Connect Unites Insurers Against Escalating Climate Risk

WASHINGTON, Feb. 03, 2026 – A landmark collaboration is set to define the future of climate resilience as ClimateTech Connect (CTC), a premier conference on climate adaptation, announced that Munich Re Risk Management Partners will serve as its Official Knowledge Partner for the 2026 event. The partnership signals a significant industry shift, bringing together global reinsurance expertise with top executives from Nationwide and Tokio Marine to forge actionable, technology-driven strategies against escalating climate threats.

The high-profile alliance underscores the increasing urgency within the financial and insurance sectors to move beyond theoretical risk modeling and into the practical deployment of solutions. As organizations grapple with the escalating costs and complexities of climate change, the April conference is being positioned as a critical nexus for the leaders, innovators, and policymakers who are actively building a more resilient global economy.

The Power of Knowledge Partnerships

The announcement places Munich Re Risk Management Partners (RMP), a specialized unit of the global reinsurance titan, at the heart of the conference's agenda. This move is more than symbolic; it represents a strategic decision to embed deep analytical expertise into the core of the industry's dialogue on climate adaptation. Markus Waniek, Chief Revenue Officer at RMP, confirmed the group will lead sessions on "using geospatial assessments to understand, manage, and measure physical climate risk."

This partnership highlights the industry's critical transition from a phase of simple climate risk awareness to one of tangible action. "The conversations happening at CTC are essential as organizations move from climate risk awareness to action as they advance their climate resilience," Waniek stated in the announcement. By sharing real-world case studies from their work helping insurers, banks, asset managers, and corporates quantify and mitigate their climate risk exposure, Munich Re aims to provide a practical playbook for accelerating the adoption of scalable solutions across sectors.

Beyond the Forecast: A New Insurance Paradigm

Underscoring the event's focus on technological innovation, ClimateTech Connect has secured two of the insurance industry's most influential technology leaders for its main stage. Casey Kempton, President of Personal Lines at Nationwide, will deliver the headline keynote address on April 9th, exploring how insurance is moving from a reactive to a preventive model.

Kempton is at the helm of Nationwide's "predict-and-prevent" strategy, a data-centric approach that utilizes smart technology to help customers avoid losses before they happen. This philosophy is a direct response to the increasing frequency and severity of weather events that have challenged the personal lines sector. Her keynote is expected to detail how predictive analytics are not just changing underwriting, but also empowering consumers with the tools and knowledge to enhance their own resilience.

Joining the main stage for a fireside chat on April 8th is Robert Pick, EVP and CIO at Tokio Marine North America. Alongside Denise Garth, Chief Strategy Officer of Majesco, Pick will examine how advanced data analytics and emerging technologies are reshaping climate risk assessment across the insurance value chain. With a global perspective from his dual role as Group Deputy CITO at Tokio Marine Group, Pick is a leading voice on the practical deployment of AI to navigate increasingly complex climate risks. His insights are expected to cover the entire insurance value chain, from improving internal processes and fraud detection to enhancing the advisory capabilities that are becoming crucial in a volatile climate.

A Cross-Sectoral Mandate for Resilience

While the presence of insurance heavyweights is prominent, ClimateTech Connect is intentionally designed as a cross-sector platform. The conference's themes for 2026—including "Navigating Rising Waters: Advances in Flood Resilience," "Wildfire Resilience," "Adaptive Architecture: Pioneering Resilience in the Real Estate Sector," and "Resilient Returns: Framing the Investment Landscape in Climate Adaptation"—reflect a broad mandate that extends to financial services, real estate, and the public sector.

The event, now in its second year, builds on the success of its 2025 inaugural conference, which drew over 1,500 leaders from organizations as diverse as J.P. Morgan, Chubb, American Express, Marsh McLennan, NASA, and FEMA. This diverse gathering underscores a growing consensus: climate resilience is not a siloed issue but a shared responsibility that requires unprecedented collaboration. By connecting tech innovators with investors, policymakers, and corporate leaders, CTC aims to bridge the "climate finance gap" and scale impactful solutions globally. The inclusion of topics like "Building the Resilient Enterprise" and "The Case for Science in the Boardroom" speaks directly to the need for integrating climate considerations into corporate strategy and governance at the highest levels.

From Awareness to Actionable Intelligence

The strategic partnerships and high-level programming for the April 8-9 conference at the Gaylord National Harbor Resort and Convention Center solidify its position as a must-attend event for any organization serious about its climate strategy. The involvement of Munich Re as a Knowledge Partner, in particular, validates the conference's mission. Reinsurers, who ultimately backstop the global insurance industry, have long been at the forefront of climate risk modeling. Their active participation in disseminating that knowledge signifies a pivotal moment for the wider business community.

"We are thrilled to welcome Munich Re Risk Management Partners as our Official Knowledge Partner,” said Megan Kuczynski, Founder and CEO of ClimateTech Connect, highlighting their "depth of expertise and global perspective on climate risk." The conference is not just a showcase of futuristic technology but a practical forum for implementing innovations that attendees can adopt within their own organizations. As tickets sell quickly, the message is clear: the era of passive climate risk observation is over, and the era of proactive, data-driven resilience has begun. The discussions at ClimateTech Connect are poised to set the agenda for how industries will build, invest, and insure in a world being reshaped by climate change.