Perry World House’s PICO Project Debuts on the Sidelines of the Munich Security Conference
Perry World House co-convened an expert consultation Climate Intelligence and Strategic Preparedness with the UN Organization for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on Thursday, February 12, hosted by the Munich Re Foundation. Held on the eve of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2026, the consultation at Munich Re headquarters connected climate‑security insights to the broader agenda of the world’s leading forum for international security policy.
Michael C. Horowitz, faculty director at Perry World House, said “Strategic preparedness is absolutely vital in 2026 for some of the most pressing global issues. Partnering with the private sector and humanitarian community on climate risk intelligence helps connect science and technology with practice. It has been great to have Perry World House talking with leaders on the ground at the Munich Security Conference this week.”
Thursday’s closed‑door roundtable brought together senior voices from government, humanitarian operations, finance, climate science, and the private sector to translate climate and risk intelligence into near‑term action for critical systems and humanitarian operations.
Robert Habeck, a Perry World House distinguished global leader and the former vice chancellor and federal minister for economic affairs and climate action of Germany, delivered the session’s keynote, framing the geopolitical and economic stakes of near‑term climate decisions. “Climate risk is now a strategic reality for security, energy, and the economy,” said Habeck. “By pairing foresight with preparedness, we can protect critical systems and strengthen democratic resilience. Working with Perry World House and partners here in Munich helps move from analysis to decisions that matter in 2026.”
Participants examined barriers to applying climate analytics in real‑world decisions. The session looked at mechanisms to connect public authorities, private finance, and humanitarian actors. Lisa Doughten, director, Financing and Outreach Division, UN Organization for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) remarked, “Saving lives means acting earlier and working together. For agencies like UN-OCHA, we are exploring innovative ways to manage risk—anticipatory finance, analytics, and field‑tested protocols—by partnering with academia, private sector leaders, and foundations.”
Koko Warner, project director of the Penn International Climate Observatory (PICO) at Perry World House, says, “Climate trends are shifting faster than many institutions are designed to respond. Near‑term foresight turns knowledge into decision options that strengthen resilience. That’s why we worked with OCHA, the Munich Re Foundation, Munich Re’s Global Risk Management Partners and NatCat Service, and the Airbus Foundation: to align climate intelligence with actions needed now.”
Learn more about the Penn International Climate Observatory here.