MSCI in practice: Harnessing GeoSpatial data for unlocking insights and informing financial decision making

Geospatial data on physical assets became increasingly important for financial decision-making. A wide range of ESG-related risks had spatial footprints - companies, lenders, investors, and insurers were exposed to these footprints through the location of company facilities. Geospatial information, such as precise asset locations, activity types, and issuer ownership, was crucial for exploring exposure to financially material ESG risks, including physical climate hazards, nature and biodiversity loss, human rights, and global supply chain disruption.

This MSCI in Practice event presented MSCI's new GeoSpatial dataset, designed to help lenders, investors, and insurers integrate geospatial analysis into their risk exposure assessments. We explored the transformative potential of geospatial data through compelling use cases, from the financial materiality of tropical cyclone exposure to the interplay between nature-based solutions and heavy industry.