On May 27, 2024, the German Actuarial Association (DAV) hosted the first edition of the newly conceived series „…in focus“. This half-day, virtual special format will always feature one major current trend topic of the profession. The combination of keynote speeches and discussion rounds strengthens the interactive exchange and enables a more in-depth professional examination of the issue.

The first edition of „Sustainability in Focus“, moderated by Dr Marc Surminski, Editor-in-Chief of Zeitschrift für Versicherungswesen, featured three presentations of half an hour each and one one-hour panel discussion.

Tobias Grimm, Head of Climate Advisory and NatCat Data at Munich Re (Group), started the session with a insightful presentation on climate change and sustainability, including an outlook for the German market on extreme weather events. Silke Stremlau, Chairwoman of the Sustainable Finance Advisory Board, then gave a in-depth talk entitled „Sustainable finance, climate justice, intergenerational contract – how can we finance a sustainable future today?“ Dr Maximilian Happacher, Chairman of the DAV Executive Board, followed with a presentation on the topic of fairness from an actuarial perspective.

In the concluding panel discussion, Dr Maximilian Happacher, Dr Christina Koppe from the German Weather Service and Dr Fritz Jaeckel, former Saxon State Minister and Head of the State Chancellery, now Managing Director of IHK Nord Westfalen, spoke about ecological and social sustainability from various perspectives. Among other things, the effects of climate change on non-life insurance and health were examined in this high-class panel.