Working with global reinsurer broker Gallagher Re, the University is leading the research through its role as a partner in the Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity + Water (Climate +), which brings academic expertise together with industry insight to strengthen preparedness for future climate risks.

Extreme weather is already affecting communities across the Northeast, with flooding and storms increasing costs for households, businesses and public services. As climate-driven risks continue to grow, better forward-looking modelling can support more accurate risk assessment and planning in the insurance sector and more widely.

The collaboration will bring new research funding into the region, with Gallagher Re’s investment will supporting specialist research roles at Newcastle University to help build local expertise in climate risk and resilience.

The project has also been supported by matched public funding through Climate +, an international research centre bringing together experts from different disciplines to tackle the biggest challenges of our time — climate change, biodiversity loss and water quality decline.

By collaborating directly with industry, Climate + applies research to real-world challenges, improving the assessment of compound climate risks, while connecting Newcastle-based expertise to international insurance networks across the UK and Ireland. The centre welcomes enquiries about future potential industry partnerships.

Tackling the biggest challenges of our time

Dr Colin Manning, Research Associate within the School of Engineering at Newcastle University, said:

“Recent years have highlighted the risks posed by the combined impacts of flooding and extreme winds. Our goal is to deepen our understanding of their causes and provide outputs that will strengthen our ability to prepare for them. We are delighted to collaborate with Gallagher Re on this project whose expertise and industry perspective will be invaluable to maximising the project’s benefits”.

About the Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity + Water

The Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity + Water tackles the biggest challenges of our time — climate change, biodiversity loss and water quality decline. We work across Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain to research solutions for preventing and living with climate change, protecting and restoring ecosystems, developing sustainable economies and improving quality of life for all.

The Co-Centre award is managed by Research Ireland, Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and supported via the UK’s International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) and the Irish Government’s Shared Island initiative.

Press release adapted with thanks from the Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity + Water.