Beyond Traffic-Light Risk Scores: Building Climate Risk Models That Actually Work | Joan Saladich (Part 1)

What if the climate risk data you're using to underwrite policies is fundamentally flawed? In this first of two-part episode of Making Risk Flow, host Jake Harding speaks with Joan Saladich, CEO and co-founder of Geoskop, about why traditional climate risk scores often fail insurers and what a more sophisticated approach looks like. Joan explains how deterministic ratings and traffic-light systems oversimplify complex climate realities, making them unsuitable for underwriting decisions. He explores the value of probabilistic climate modeling, AI-powered analysis, and uncertainty quantification in assessing evolving risks. The conversation also examines changing reinsurance dynamics, which are pushing more climate-related exposure onto commercial insurers. Joan discusses the importance of validating climate models through measurable accuracy and transparency, while highlighting how outdated scenario assumptions can distort risk assessments. Together, they show how embracing data complexity can create a meaningful competitive advantage in modern insurance underwriting. Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we’ll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora. To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'. Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA. Check out the three most downloaded episodes: The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo 20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek Masojada Implementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's