Prof. Dr. David N. Bresch

Full Professor at the Department of Environmental Systems Science

ETH Zürich

Professur Wetter- und Klimarisiken

CHN K 73.2

Universitätstrasse 16

8092 Zürich

Switzerland

Additional information

Research area

David Bresch’s research focuses on the impacts of weather and climate on socio-economic systems. Combining numerical (open source) probabilistic modelling of weather and climate risks with the engagement of decision makers and end-users, his research aims to explore ways to strengthen their resilience and create a shared understanding of weather and climate susceptibility. Such an integrated view along the chain of impacts also opens new perspectives and approaches to the treatment of uncertainty in decision-making. He has conducted many case studies across the globe, applying a worldwide consistent, yet locally specific methodology to strengthen climate resilience while integrating adaptation with economic development and sustainable growth.

Full Professor for Weather and Climate Risks at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zürich and MeteoSwiss since 2016. 2000-2016, roles at Swiss Re included Head Business Development, Global Head Sustainability, Head Atmospheric Perils Group and Chief modeler for natural catastrophe risk assessment. 1998-1999 Research Associate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT, Cambridge, USA. Member of the Swiss UNFCCC delegation 2009-2012 and 2015, member of the Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG) of the UN Green Climate Fund (GCF), 2014-2016. Member of the OcCC 2009-2021 and steering committee member of ProClim, 2010-2022, advisory board member of Deltares, Netherlands. Board member of WWF Switzerland 2013-2022, Academia Engelberg and sanu future learning AG. PhD in physics from ETH Zurich, Switzerland.

Membership

Since	Membership
2018	Climate Risk Management - Member of the Editorial Advisory Board
2018	Deltares, Netherlands - International Advisory Board
2018	International Risk Governance Center (IRGC) - Member of the Advisory Board
2017	Deutsche Akademie für Städtebau und Landesplanung - Korrespondierendes Mitglied
2017	Präventionsstiftung der Kantonalen Gebäudeversicherungen - Stiftungsrat
2017	Rockefeller Foundation, Innovative Finance - Senior Advisor
2012	OcCC - Organe consultatif sur les changements climatiques
2010	ProClim - Forum for climate and global change, Swiss Academy of Sciences

Course Catalogue

Spring Semester 2025

Number	Unit
363-1114-00L	Introduction to Risk Modelling and Management
364-1058-00L	Risk Center Seminar Series
651-4095-01L	Colloquium Atmosphere and Climate 1
651-4095-02L	Colloquium Atmosphere and Climate 2
651-4095-03L	Colloquium Atmosphere and Climate 3
701-0650-00L	Risk Analysis and Management
701-0660-00L	Practical Course in Human Environment Systems
701-1252-00L	Climate Change Uncertainty and Risk: From Probabilistic Forecasts to Economics of Climate Adaptation
743-0001-00L	CAS ETH in Climate Innovation
877-0231-00L	Policy-Making in Practice