Speaking during London Climate Action Week, Aleksander Surowiak, Head of Sales at Previsico, warned that the UK faces a growing crisis. With flood losses already exceeding £1 billion annually and projected to rise fivefold by 2050, Surowiak argued that a fragmented approach to risk mitigation is no longer tenable.
“Flooding is no longer an isolated threat – it is a systemic risk that affects us all,” Surowiak said during a panel at the Climate Innovation Forum, a flagship event of London Climate Action Week. “I’m urging insurers, government, and industry leaders to work together to safeguard our communities, infrastructure, and economy.”
Surowiak shared the stage with Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, who underscored the urgency of action: “Communities across the UK are already facing the consequences of flooding. The urgency of the climate imperative is clearer than ever.”
Previsico’s message is clear: no single sector can bear the burden of flood risk alone. The company highlighted its own collaborative efforts – such as partnerships with Liberty Specialty Markets via its Risk Reduce platform and with Zurich Municipal, which integrates Previsico’s live flood forecasting into its insurance policies – as real-world examples of how early warning technologies and incentive-based models can reduce exposure.
“We know that up to 70% of flood losses can be avoided with the right plans and early warnings,” said Surowiak. “Now is the time to act – together.”
Previsico is advocating for a comprehensive national flood resilience strategy, underpinned by real-time data, smart forecasting tools, and aligned incentives that support proactive risk management rather than reactive loss recovery. The company argues that current disjointed efforts fail to address the scale and complexity of the threat.
Throughout London Climate Action Week, Previsico is engaging with policymakers, insurers, and innovators to push forward a collaborative flood resilience agenda. Surowiak’s panel at the Climate Innovation Forum, titled ‘The Climate Data Journey: Managing Opportunities, Challenges and Expectations’, was hosted by Equans and chaired by James Murray, Editor-in-Chief of Business Green.
As the impacts of climate change accelerate, Previsico warns that building resilience is no longer optional – it’s a shared responsibility that demands immediate, unified action.
