Engineering Climate Resilience – Zurich Resilience Solutions on Managing Physical Risk

Video

Engineering Resilience: How Zurich Is Tackling Physical Climate Risk

In this interview, Tabea van Hasselt from Zurich Resilience Solutions discusses how data, engineering insight and forward-looking risk analysis are helping organisations prepare for physical climate threats. She explains how Zurich’s framework combines natural-hazard modelling, vulnerability assessments and scenario projections to keep clients both insurable and resilient.

Oct 28, 2025

Tabea van Hasselt, Climate Resilience Lead Benelux, Zurich

Tags: ESG and Climate Risk

The views and opinions expressed in this content are those of the thought leader as an individual and are not attributed to CeFPro or any other organization

Tabea van Hasselt outlines how Zurich Resilience Solutions works with clients worldwide to identify and mitigate physical climate risks - from hailstorms and floods to extreme wind and sea-level rise. Drawing on her environmental-engineering background, she stresses the need to move beyond awareness to measurable action. Using Zurich’s “hazard–exposure–vulnerability” methodology, teams assess each site’s unique risk profile and guide businesses through practical adaptation steps.

She also warns of a growing divide between proactive and passive organisations. Without timely investment in mitigation - whether through structural upgrades, emergency planning, or climate-scenario modelling - more locations could become uninsurable in the coming decades. Van Hasselt sees resilience not just as compliance, but as competitive advantage: protecting business continuity, reputation, and long-term insurability in a changing climate.

Tabea van Hasselt Bio

Tabea is an environmental engineer and holds a master’s degree in Environmental Sciences from Wageningen University in the Netherlands. In her role she focusses on supporting the public and private sector with climate-related hazards and climate adaptation. Tabea helps organizations understand and manage climate risks by conducting global portfolio analyses and on-site assessments of assets at risk. Some of her more recent work includes advising banks, real estate investors, the energy sector, transportation (road & rail) sector and chemical sector on climate risks and adaptation plans for their assets and networks. Additionally, she has worked extensively with the public sector in the Netherlands to draft adaptation plans on a national, regional and municipal level. Advisory for water management, wind, drought and heat are some of her specialties. Prior to joining the Dutch ZRS climate team she worked as a Water Management & Climate Adaptation Consultant at a large Engineering Consultancy.