ISO announced the participation of Atmospheric and EnvironmentalResearch (AER), Willis, and Zurich Financial Services on theindustry panel on "Leveraging Climate Risk to Improve FinancialPerformance" at its inaugural ISO Customer Conference in Orlando onOct. 25.

The group, representing property/casualty insurance industry andenvironmental research thought leaders, will define a framework forhelping manage weather and climate risk and explain the businessopportunity in an increasingly volatile environment.

Discussing the latest climate risk management approaches, theforum will delve into five areas that insurers need to examine asthey evaluate their own exposure when offering coverage forclimate-related risks to their policyholders: how to incorporateclimate science into the underwriting process, consequences andregulation of greenhouse gas emissions, operational riskmanagement, litigation, and liability.

Panelists include industry leaders who helped develop proactiveweather- and climate-based strategies for industries andgovernments in North America and Europe: Rick Hawkinberry, seniorvice president, Willis Environmental Practice; Paul Walsh, seniorvice president, business solutions, AER; and Lindene E. Patton,chief climate product officer, Zurich Financial Services. AER'smanaging director, Kyle Beatty, will moderate the panel.

"The demand for insurance coverage for climate-related riskcontinues to evolve and will most likely increase as some currentuncertainties related to climate change litigation, legislation,and regulation are resolved," says Hawkinberry. "As more and moreinsurers assess the physical and liability risks, they will havethe necessary information to calculate the financial exposures andoffer coverages that meet the climate risk management needs oftheir corporate clients."

"Among the emerging risks the insurance industry faces, climateis unique," says Walsh. "We're observing symptoms of change everyday. Leaders in the insurance industry are investing in appliedresearch to draw actionable conclusions about the changes takingplace in the frequency and severity of weather-related perils."

"Leveraging Climate Risk to Improve Financial Performance" willtake place on October 25, at the inaugural ISO Customer Conferenceat Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando in Florida. Formore information about ISO Customer Conference 2010, visit www.iso.com/customerconference