As an IVM PhD student affiliated with the Climate Finance Academy and working for Achmea (a Dutch financial conglomerate), the job of Daan van Ederen involves contributing original research to enhance our understanding of climate-related financial risks. While ongoing research is essential, we already possess extensive knowledge about climate change and the significant challenges it presents. Therefore, sharing existing knowledge effectively is just as important as creating new insights.

That is why Daan and his colleagues from Achmea together with scientists from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, including experts from the Institute for Environmental Studies and the Climate Finance Academy, organized a three-day training course for Achmea employees who work on climate-related issues.

This course integrated climate science, economics, and finance, aiming to clarify the physical and transitional risks for decision-makers in the financial sector. We structured the sessions to combine insightful lectures with practical case studies, providing plenty of opportunities for discussion and addressing the participants’ specific questions and challenges.

Topics covered during the sessions included:

• The latest scientific findings on climate change (such as climate tipping points), extreme weather events, and their implications for the insurance sector.
• Bridging the gap from macro-level scenarios to micro-level impacts: translating broad macroeconomic climate scenarios into sector-specific and company-specific outcomes.
• Translating climate risks into measurable financial risks, particularly with regards to insurance products, mortgages, and investments, including guidance on appropriately interpreting models and their results.
• Opportunities for adaptation and mitigation, such as risk reduction strategies, “building back better” initiatives, product innovations, and sustainable investment decisions.
• The growing significance of climate transition planning within the evolving legal frameworks, highlighting leadership responsibilities and managing reputational risks in an increasingly dynamic ESG landscape.

We’re very pleased with the success of this course, as it has established a solid foundation for advancing climate risk management and supporting the transition towards a more sustainable future. We extend our sincere gratitude to all participants for their active engagement, insightful questions, and openness. Special thanks to our expert speakers—Wouter Botzen, Jan Brusselaers, Dim Coumou, Tim Bleeker, and Rens Van Tilburg—for sharing their valuable knowledge and expertise!

Want to learn more? Contact Daan van Ederen (d.van.ederen@vu.nl)