Kulmbach is moving forward: energy talks on sustainable investments!

Kulmbach is moving forward: energy talks on sustainable investments!

On July 1, 2025, the Kulmbach district invites you to the 28th Kulmbach Energy Talks under the topic “Sustainably investing in environmental and climate protection”. The event will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the large meeting room of the Kulmbach district office and is organized in cooperation with the Upper Franconia Energy Agency. The financial industry plays a crucial role in the areas of sustainability and climate change, and the variety of sustainable financial products is constantly growing. Nevertheless, it is a challenge for consumers to keep track of things. The aim of the event is to provide insights into the sustainability goals and mechanisms of the financial sector.

Expert lectures by Prof. Dr. Kay Herrmann and other representatives from Sparkasse Kulmbach-Kronach will shed light on the framework conditions and responsibilities of the financial markets. The focus is on topics such as identifying and evaluating true sustainability. Markus Suttner will also speak about citizen energy cooperatives, especially the Bürger-Energie ProRegion eG. Following the lectures, there will be time for questions about sustainable investments. Participation is free, but registration is required by June 30, 2025. Those interested can register by email (petri.kerstin@landkreis-kulmbach.de), telephone (09221/707-164) or via a QR code.

Sustainable investments in 2025

The year 2025 is described as crucial for sustainable finance as it presents both challenges and opportunities. The focus is on six central topics: ESG regulations, carbon transition investments, sustainable bonds, the transformation of the global ESG fund landscape, biodiversity financing and ethical questions surrounding artificial intelligence. Regarding ESG regulations, 2025 is expected to be a turning point for the credibility of these standards, particularly with regard to the EU Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) and the Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

Pressure is growing on the EU to establish clear reporting standards, while in the US, under a possible new Trump administration, setbacks are expected, for example by withdrawing from the Paris Agreement and relaxing SEC rules on greenhouse gas disclosures. However, global initiatives, such as the introduction of climate and sustainability standards by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), could provide additional transparency and credibility.

Impact of sustainability on financial markets

The ESG fund landscape will experience some changes by the end of 2025 due to regulatory adjustments and increased transparency requirements. In the EU, ESMA is introducing guidelines against greenwashing, resulting in 30-50% of ESG funds having to adapt their names or investment strategies. In parallel, the market for ESG funds in the US has seen a decline from 647 to 595 funds, while outside the EU the growth of ESG fund assets remains slow.

Another focus in 2025 is Carbon Transition investments, which are important for the transition to the low-carbon economy. Investors are demanding concrete action from companies and, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the energy transition will require $6 trillion annually by 2030. Although high interest rates hurt returns, a decline in interest rates could make future investments in green technologies more attractive again.

Additionally, sustainable bonds, particularly green, social and sustainability bonds (GSS+), are expected to cross the $1 trillion mark again in 2025, supported by a more favorable interest rate environment and increasing demand for sustainable debt.

Biodiversity financing is also becoming increasingly important, but it comes with challenges. Initiatives such as the Taskforce for Nature-Related Financial Information raise awareness of biodiversity risks. Finally, ethical questions surrounding artificial intelligence, both in terms of its high energy consumption and social risks such as privacy violations, are of concern to more and more investors. Nevertheless, AI also offers the opportunity to support sustainability goals through more efficient energy distribution.

Overall, 2025 is shaping up to be a crucial phase for sustainable investments, influenced by ESG regulations, technical innovations and global crises. While the Kulmbach energy talks offer valuable insights into the topic, the processing and implementation of this information is of central importance in the financial world.

For further information about the Kulmbach Energy Talks, please visit Wiesentbote. Further details on sustainable investments in 2025 can be found at Outlook.