Insurers promote sustainable transformation: New ESG questionnaire for selecting asset managers
The German Insurance Association (GDV) is presenting an ESG questionnaire for the first time, enabling insurers to assess the sustainability expertise of their asset managers. With this tool, insurers can ensure that their investments are aligned even more consistently with ESG criteria.
GDV is presenting an ESG questionnaire for the first time, enabling insurers to assess the sustainability expertise of their asset managers. With this tool, insurers can ensure that their investments are aligned even more consistently with ESG criteria (environmental, social, and governance).
Regarding the questionnaire, Jörg Asmussen, CEO of GDV, says: "Aligning with ESG criteria is an important step toward reducing CO₂ emissions that are indirectly financed through investments. With €1.9 trillion in assets, the insurance industry is one of the largest institutional investors in Germany. The questionnaire further strengthens insurers' sustainability efforts and can support them in aligning their investments with climate goals."
"With the questionnaire, we provide guidance; it is a service offering for our members."
The use of the questionnaire is voluntary and non-binding. The questionnaire is also flexible in application and can be adapted or supplemented as needed. Asmussen adds: "With the questionnaire, we provide guidance; it is a service offering for our members."
Insurers are reliable partners in the sustainable transformation. This is especially reflected in their Sustainability Roadmap, which was first adopted in 2021 and updated in 2023. A central goal of the roadmap is the significant reduction of CO₂ emissions that are indirectly financed through insurers’ investments. Since a large portion of investment assets is managed via funds, the asset managers commissioned with this task play a key role in achieving insurers’ sustainability goals.
A central objective of the roadmap is the substantial reduction of financed emissions. Around 90 percent of German insurers have committed to achieving net-zero targets for their investments by 2050 – in line with the Paris Climate Agreement and EU goals. Net-zero means that any remaining emissions are offset through appropriate measures such as emissions certificates or compensation. The GDV provides updates on the sector’s progress in implementing the Sustainability Roadmap in an annual sustainability report.
You can download the ESG questionnaire for selecting asset managers here.
