ESG Community Days 2026

The ERGO ESG Community Days took place in Düsseldorf on 5 and 6 March, featuring top speakers and numerous colleagues from ERGO and Munich Re. A total of 17 markets were represented. The focus was on the new climate ambition and sharing expertise on ESG topics from the various markets.

A key objective of the ESG Community Days was to explain the climate ambition and background, actively support its implementation, exchange best practices and connect participants. The event took place for the third time. At the opening, host Edward Ler, Chief Underwriting Officer and member of the Board of Management of ERGO Group AG, emphasised that careful management of environmental, social and governance (ESG) aspects strengthens the resilience of our business model. At the same time, he stressed that the integration of ESG aspects is a joint task for all areas of the company.

Climate Ambition 2030: When climate change and science turn into concrete action

The timing of the Community Days was deliberately chosen – shortly after the publication of Climate Ambition 2030. With this, Munich Re, as a responsible corporate group, aims to contribute to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.

How this can be achieved was demonstrated by Tobias Grimm (Munich Re Chief Climate Scientist), Jens Fricke (Head of Strategic Asset Allocation) and Ann-Katrin Ebert (Head of ERGO Group Sustainability) using concrete targets and measures in investments, the insurance business and the company’s own operations.

It became clear that the topic concerns everyone. Every local unit around the globe has a duty to contribute – whether in its own operations by using electricity from renewable energy sources, in its investment strategy or in the design of its products.

ESG in the core business: How ERGO combines responsibility, risks and opportunities

The panel “Navigating ESG in insurance: Where actions, opportunities and risks converge” demonstrated how responsible and forward-looking action addresses stakeholder needs while at the same time strengthening resilience and long-term economic success.

On the podium, Michael Menhart (Munich Re Chief Economist), Kerstin Schenck (Chief Governance Officer DKV Seguros), Edward Ler and Errikos Moatsos (CEO ERGO Greece) examined ESG from different perspectives. The discussion was based, among other things, on figures from the Munich Re Natural Catastrophe Report 2025, which show a sharp increase in weather-related losses and so-called non-peak perils such as floods, wildfires and storms.

Using ERGO Greece as an example, it became clear how protection gaps can be reduced by means of location risk intelligence, wildfire risk maps and flood analyses, as well as government requirements for mandatory insurance. In addition, discussions addressed the impact of heatwaves on the health insurance sector and highlighted why these risks can only be effectively managed through coordinated collaboration between policymakers, the private sector, and insurers.

Engaging employees: How international entities bring the social dimension of ESG to life

In the third part of the event, colleagues reported on their local social engagement activities: while ERGO in Greece provides children from disadvantaged families with fully equipped school bags, ERGO in China organises walking challenges and DKV Seguros in Spain organises Olympic Games for children with Down syndrome. ERGO Hestia in Poland offers a wide range of corporate volunteering opportunities and encourages its employees to contribute their expertise to corporate volunteering projects. ERGO in the Baltic States combines education, culture and environmental protection in a full-day event by the sea.

The World Café gave participants the opportunity to discuss the topics after the event.

Once again, the ESG Community Days have shown that the path is challenging, but it offers the opportunity to permanently combine economic success and social responsibility.