The Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI) Initiative is proud to announce that the PSI Climate–Nature Nexus Atlas has been named Nature/Biodiversity Initiative of the Year as part of the InsuranceERM Climate Risk & Sustainability Awards 2026.
Developed by the PSI Working Group for Nature—a multi-stakeholder group of more than 50 insurers, reinsurers and brokers together with more than 20 technical experts—the Atlas addresses a longstanding and growing challenge for the insurance industry: making the links between the state of nature and climate-related risks visible, actionable, and practical for insurance decision-making. Drawing on an extensive evidence base of over 370 scientific and industry sources, it maps how 108 ecosystem functional groups from the IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology influence 12 climate-related perils and hazards. It shows how ecosystem extent and condition affect event occurrence, hazard intensity, exposure, vulnerability, and overall risk outcomes.
“Nature is not a separate risk sitting alongside climate risk. The condition of ecosystems is already shaping many of the climate risks insurers underwrite. If we can make those relationships more visible and measurable, we can better understand how changes in ecosystem condition can influence risk over time.” —Thomas Viegas, Co-Chair of the PSI Working Group for Nature
The Atlas forms part of the PSI Nature-Aware Underwriting Toolkit, which includes an Application Guide offering practical guidance on interpreting and applying Atlas insights within underwriting and risk assessment processes, tailored to an organization’s level of maturity. The kit also includes the Nature-Aware Underwriting Handbook, a modular engagement tool designed to support business-line discussions and build understanding of nature-related risks and opportunities across underwriting, actuarial, and risk functions through three pillars: Education, Engagement and Exploration.
This recognition highlights the growing importance of scientifically grounded approaches that help insurers navigate the interconnected challenges of climate change and nature loss and strengthen resilience in an increasingly complex risk landscape.
Supporting future development through the UNEP FI Risk Centre
Version 1.0 of the PSI Nature-Aware Underwriting Toolkit is available to all PSI Signatories through the PSI Member Area. Further development of the toolkit will be conducted through the UNEP FI Risk Centre’s Sustainability Risk Integration Programme. Feedback from programme participants on practical application of the toolkit will help refine methodologies, identify use cases across business lines and geographies, and advance industry approaches to nature-aware underwriting. Interested signatories are invited to find out more about the programme and register here.
Read the COP17 Briefing on the PSI Climate–Nature Nexus Atlas
Stakeholders can also access the COP17 Briefing on the PSI Climate–Nature Nexus Atlas, which outlines key findings, explains the methodology and highlights the Atlas’ relevance of ecosystem condition to climate-related risks, resilience and insurance decision-making.
As insurers seek to better understand and manage the interconnected challenges of climate change and nature loss, the PSI Climate–Nature Nexus Atlas provides a practical and scientifically grounded starting point. Along with the PSI Nature-Aware Underwriting Toolkit, it represents an important step towards equipping the insurance industry with the knowledge and tools needed to support more resilient communities, economies and ecosystems.