AXA Addressed Türkiye's Climate Risks Through a Data and Modeling Perspective at COP31

AXA Türkiye held a panel titled “Türkiye Climate Report: Data, Modeling and Sectoral Risk Map” at the Insurance House 2026 event organized by the Insurance Association of Türkiye (TSB) in Antalya within the scope of COP31. At the event, where it took part as the Climate Partner, AXA evaluated the effects of climate change on Türkiye, the risks that may be encountered in the future, and solutions that could be developed against these risks. The panel emphasized the importance of transforming climate data into decisions that will strengthen the resilience of cities, businesses and society.

The panel, which focused on the AXA Türkiye Climate Report, was moderated by Onur Koçkar, AXA Türkiye Head of Legal, Compliance and Corporate Responsibility. Speakers at the session included AXA Türkiye CEO Yavuz Ölken, AXA Group Chief Communications, Brand and Sustainability Officer Ulrike Decoene, AXA Climate CEO Antoine Denoix, and T-Rupt Chief Modeler Prof. Dr. Sinan Akkar.

The panel addressed the prominent climate risks in the areas of cities, agriculture and food, energy and health, and also evaluated the mutual effects of these risks across sectors. Attention was drawn to the role of data and modeling in foreseeing future risks, while emphasis was placed on the contributions the insurance sector can make to the climate adaptation process with its knowledge and technical expertise.

Yavuz Ölken: “We must transform risk information into society's preparedness capacity”

AXA Türkiye CEO Yavuz Ölken drew attention to the preventive role of the insurance sector against climate risks and stated that the sector's data and risk management accumulation can be used to strengthen societal resilience.

Ölken used the following statements in his assessment:

“Understanding climate risks better allows us to place our decisions about the future on a more solid foundation today. As the insurance sector, we must use the data and risk management accumulation we possess to strengthen the preparedness capacity of cities, businesses and individuals. We see the AXA Türkiye Climate Report as an important part of this approach. Our goal is to contribute to transforming risk information into concrete measures and to be one of the partners of society's resilience. For this, continuous cooperation is needed among the public sector, academia and the private sector.”

Ulrike Decoene: “Climate intelligence forms the basis for acting together”

AXA Group Chief Communications, Brand and Sustainability Officer Ulrike Decoene stated that climate intelligence contributes to the formation of a common understanding among public institutions, the business world and society.

Stating that making climate science accessible and actionable will support decision-making processes, Decoene emphasized the importance of shaping climate adaptation efforts according to the unique conditions of each region.

Antoine Denoix: “Climate data must be transformed into concrete sectoral decisions”

AXA Climate CEO Antoine Denoix drew attention to the need for climate data to be integrated into decision-making processes on a sector basis.

Denoix said, “Climate data reveals its true value when it shapes concrete decisions for each sector. By combining strong modeling capacity with a detailed understanding of local vulnerabilities, we can identify in which areas urgent action is required and support institutions in prioritizing effective adaptation measures.”

Prof. Dr. Sinan Akkar: “Data and modeling play a decisive role in the management of climate risks”

T-Rupt Chief Modeler Prof. Dr. Sinan Akkar drew attention to the importance of reliable data and scientific modeling for the accurate assessment of climate risks.

Stating that floods and forest fires are among the prominent climate risks in Türkiye, Akkar said that in order to realistically estimate possible losses, measurement data regarding the frequency and severity of hazards must be evaluated together with detailed inventories containing the location, purpose of use and structural characteristics of buildings and infrastructure.

Emphasizing the importance of analyzing different scenarios to identify weak points in critical service infrastructure so that municipalities can use their limited resources more effectively, Akkar said, “In order to reflect these analyses in planning, investment and maintenance decisions, disaster risk management units need to be established within municipalities.”

From sectoral risks to a joint implementation agenda

The panel addressed the effects of extreme heat, water stress, floods and other climate hazards on production processes, supply chains, critical infrastructure and the continuity of services. Attention was drawn to the fact that a disruption experienced in one sector could also be reflected in other sectors, and it was emphasized that risk analyses should take into account the connections between sectors.

In the panel, which was associated with COP31's climate implementation agenda of climate-resilient cities, food security, clean energy transition and climate-resilient health systems, strengthening data sharing, developing local analysis capacity, and monitoring risk reduction efforts with measurable targets stood out as common areas of work.

About AXA

Serving more than 92 million customers with 156 thousand employees in 52 countries, AXA Group is among the world's leading insurance companies with premium volume of 116 billion euros and operating income of 8.4 billion euros according to 2025 data.

AXA Türkiye, which carries out the Group's operations in Türkiye, has been operating in the country for more than 130 years. One of Türkiye's leading insurance companies with more than 4 thousand business partners and more than 1000 employees in 81 provinces, AXA Türkiye aims to protect its customers' lives and property as well as their loved ones, dreams and futures against possible risks, in line with its brand purpose of “protecting what is valuable to people for the progress of humanity.”