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Dear Friends of the Munich Re Foundation,
Ladies and Gentlemen, |
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As a summer of extremes comes to an end, Europe has gone through an unprecedented period of heat, record temperatures, severe drought and major challenges for cities, infrastructure and daily life. Munich likes to call itself the northernmost city of Italy – usually a reference to architecture, fashion and dolce vita. This year, however, our hometown also lived up to the comparison in terms of temperature: 38 hot days above 30°C were recorded.
In other parts of the world, conditions were even more extreme. Large areas of the central United States and Canada suffered severe drought, while the Arctic recorded its warmest combined summer for land and ocean temperatures. Puerto Rico, Jamaica and several smaller islands experienced one of the region’s worst droughts after the early rainy season failed. In late August, a catastrophic rock-ice avalanche in the Himalayan border region between Nepal and China triggered a massive debris flow in Nepal. In Assam, India, and Bangladesh, an exceptionally strong monsoon caused severe flooding, with the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar among the worst-hit areas.
These are individual examples, but the growing frequency of such extremes is a worrying signal for the years ahead. The message is clear: we must prepare better and become more resilient. Disaster preparedness, risk protection through insurance models and ambitious climate action are essential. We will continue to support these goals through our projects. Read more in our reports and updates.
A special note: our largest annual event, the International Conference on Inclusive Insurance 2026, is coming up soon. It will take place in Rwanda from 19 to 23 October. Registration is now open, and we look forward to seeing many of you there!
Your team
Munich Re Foundation
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Dialogue Forum: Working safely in a changing climate – how do we protect health and the economy? Heatwaves are putting growing pressure on employees, companies and the economy. Our Dialogue Forum on 15 September, hosted by Munich Re Foundation, Munich Science Communication Lab and KLUG, explored why workplace heat protection is becoming increasingly important – and how policymakers, companies and co-determination can help safeguard health, productivity and quality of life in the long term. > more |
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Building capacity for Inclusive Insurance – Learnings from the Impact Insurance Academy 2026 Inclusive insurance strengthens resilience among low-income households, small businesses and vulnerable communities. Yet many providers in underserved markets lack the capacity to develop viable, consumer-focused products. Supported by Munich Re Foundation, the ILO Impact Insurance Academy 2026 showed how professional training, international exchange and digital resources can help inclusive insurance markets grow. > more |
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2023 RISK Award: Bringing early warning closer to communities of the Inkomati River Basin Since the launch of the project in late 2023 till summer 2026, the Munich Re Foundation has supported the South African NGO Association for Water and Rural Development (AWARD) in building a multi-hazard early warning system for the Inkomati River Basin. In a landscape where droughts can shape one season and the river can bring floods the next, how can communities stay one step ahead of water-related risks? Read our project overview. > more |
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2025 RISK Award: From risk to resilience: The story of a youth-led climate initiative Following Bolivia’s devastating 2024 forest fires, RISK Award winner ChildFund Bolivia, together with We Effect and APCOB, worked with eight communities in Monte Verde Territory. The initiative invested in solar-powered water systems, emergency preparedness plans and environmental education, showing how local action led by indigenous children and young people can strengthen climate resilience.
> more |
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2027 RISK Award: Homes at risk – Climate resilience for informal settlements The 2027 RISK Award focuses on strengthening climate resilience in informal and semi-formal settlements, where households face growing risks from heat, flooding and storms but often remain underserved by adaptation finance. We invited non-profit organisations to propose locally rooted solutions from household to community level. By the deadline on 31 July 2026, 771 submissions had been received, highlighting the urgent need for action and the growing funding gap in climate adaptation.
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Innovation challenges for climate resilience – meet the finalists Our 2026 RAIN Challenge for nature-positive agriculture ran alongside two other initiatives focused on technology for resilience and urban development. From more than 1,900 applications, 89 finalists from 44 countries were selected. They are developing bold, locally led solutions to urgent climate challenges. Discover the initiatives, people and ideas driving resilience from the ground up. > more |
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ICII 2026 – Where the world advances inclusive insurance: Register now!
The International Conference on Inclusive Insurance 2026 will take place from 19-23 October 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda. 500+ experts from 50+ countries will discuss and identify ways of accelerating growth and economic viability in inclusive insurance for emerging markets. The conference will be hosted by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), the National Bank of Rwanda (NBR), Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR), Rwanda Insurers Association (ASSAR), and Rwanda Insurance Brokers Association (RIBA) in cooperation with Munich Re Foundation and the Microinsurance Network. > more
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Dialogue Forum: Nuclear energy for climate protection – Future solution or misguided investment? As the nuclear energy debate regains momentum in Germany and Europe, the Dialogue Forum asks whether it can support climate protection and energy security – or whether it remains an expensive and risky distraction. Together with the Catholic Academy in Bavaria we invite you to join the discussion on 29 October 2026. > more |
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Interactive Workshop on 20 October 2026: Social Simulation on Planned Relocation During Munich Climate Week, this interactive workshop invites participants to step into a social simulation on planned relocation. They will explore the difficult trade-offs communities, authorities and support organisations face when climate risks make moving unavoidable – and reflect on how fair, people-centred decisions can be made. If you are interested to join, please contact us via email. > more |
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Executive Board
Renate Bleich, Managing Director
Dirk Reinhard, Deputy Managing Director
Chair of the board of trustees
Dr. Doris Höpke |
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Munich Re Foundation - Königinstraße 107 - 80802 Munich - Germany
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