Chris Johnson: How Insurers Can Better Understand Climate Risk

FF News | Fintech Finance
FF News | Fintech FinanceApr 22, 2026

Why It Matters

By providing daily, property‑level climate risk data, insurers can price policies more accurately and unlock coverage for assets previously deemed uninsurable, strengthening resilience against rapid climate impacts.

Key Takeaways

  • New satellite constellation provides daily 5‑meter imagery for insurers.
  • Platform offers property‑level risk data on wildfire and flood exposure.
  • MGAs can insure assets deemed uninsurable by larger carriers.
  • AI models integrate high‑frequency data to refine climate risk analytics.
  • Real‑time insights help insurers adapt to rapidly changing climate hazards.

Summary

In the video, Chris Johnson outlines his firm’s mission to give insurers granular, real‑time visibility into climate‑driven perils such as wildfires and floods.

He explains that traditional carriers rely on broad‑area models that label many locations “uninsurable.” By deploying a constellation of ten new satellites that capture 5‑meter resolution imagery each morning, his platform delivers property‑level exposure data at daily cadence, which AI and analytics engines then translate into actionable risk scores.

Johnson highlights that this capability enables managing general agents (MGAs) and excess‑and‑surplus carriers to underwrite properties that larger insurers avoid, effectively opening a market segment previously shut out. He also notes the integration of emerging AI models to continuously refine predictions as climate conditions evolve.

The technology promises more accurate pricing, reduced loss ratios, and new revenue streams for insurers willing to adopt hyper‑local risk intelligence, while also pushing the industry toward faster, data‑driven responses to accelerating climate change.

Original Description

At InsurTech NY, Chris Johnson from EarthDaily explains how satellite data is helping insurers assess risk at a property level.
With climate change accelerating, better visibility into wildfire and flood risks is becoming critical for underwriting and coverage decisions.

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