Katharina Erdmann

Katharina joined Climate & Company in 2020 and works as an analyst on topics of transition finance and sustainable finance in Germany. Being passionate about transforming the financial system to shape a sustainable future, she is working on solutions to enhance capital flows into economic activities in transition. Prior to this, she led the project “Comparative assessment of sustainability reporting in EU partner countries, including the members of the International Platform on Sustainable Finance (IPSF)”. She completed her academic degrees in Economics in Bayreuth, Seoul, and Berlin and gained first work experience in the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and the DIW Berlin, where she worked on projects on green bonds, non-financial corporate reporting, the Sustainable Finance Research Platform, and the EU Sustainable Finance Taxonomy. In her free time, Katharina can usually be found doing gymnastics or outdoors in the countryside.

Latest released papers

Publication

Investor Impact in Transition Finance: Learning from Ecolabels

February 21, 2023 - Forward-looking information are key: How Ecolabels can channel more (retail) investments into transition finance.This publication is a first overview paper, originating from our ClimLabels project. This paper sheds light on the evolving transition finance landscape with a particular focus on Ecolabels and what we can learn from them to construct transition finance products. This paper builds partially on our input on the UK's proposed transition label. What constitutes the transition finance landscape? Massive investments from the private and public sector, as well as a supporting financing framework, are needed to reach net zero targets. While there has been a surge in interest in investments that are currently sustainable (such as renewable energy investments),…

Publication

Remarks on UK’s proposed transition investment label

January 26, 2023 - Our response to the UK Consultation Paper 22/20 - Sustainability Disclosure Requirements and Investment LabelsOur response to the UK Consultation Paper 22/20 - Sustainability Disclosure Requirements and Investment Labels The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has proposed three sustainable investment labels (i.e., sustainable focus, sustainable improvers, sustainable impact) in the form of a consultation paper (link). Our response to the consultation builds on research originating from our ClimLabels project, financed by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The project analyses transition labels in climate finance. Our technical input therefore focuses on the "Sustainable Improvers" label, its qualifying criteria (in particular Question 9), and how (retail) investment can support Paris-aligned transition pathways and…

Publication

A next step for biodiversity disclosure: building on the GBF and existing tools and measures

December 16, 2022 - Part of a paper series published by Expertise France, Climate & Company has written a position paper about biodiveristy disclosure in the context of the CBD COP15Part of a paper series published by Expertise France, Climate & Company has written a position paper about biodiveristy disclosure in the context of the CBD COP15. The policy paper first argues how corporate disclosure can play a critical role in the protection of biodiversity around the world. Then, it lays out the existing work on disclosure regulation and initiatives, and explains what first steps corporation and financial institutions around the world have already taken. Lastly, it explains why the Global Biodiversity Framework under discussion at COP15 should build on existing disclosure work. In doing so it can create a…

Publication

Report: When Finance Talks Nature

December 9, 2022 - This report reveals that taxonomies worldwide fail to take into account nature and biodiversity and its services.NEW REPORT: “When Finance Talks Nature – Creating a common language for ambitious and nature-positive sustainable finance taxonomies by aligning common design features and integrating nature-related scenario analysis” (Commissioned by WWF) What's in it? In this report, we reveal that while a growing number of countries is developing sustainable finance taxonomies, the vast majority fails to adequately address biodiversity or nature loss. This is a crucial shortcoming because over half of the world's GDP - $44 trillion - is moderately or highly dependent on nature and its services. A rapid and substantial shift in capital is necessary to prevent irreversible…

Publication

Sustainability due diligence and reporting obligations for financial institutions in EU policies

December 5, 2022 - An overview of the respective obligations for financial institutions across a core set of EU regulatory measures related to sustainability disclosure and due diligence, drawing on the case of deforestation-related risks and impacts.To date, the financial sector plays a significant role in funding investments that contribute to deforestation. Therefore, financial institutions have a crucial role to play in curbing deforestation and associated land-use change, which are key drivers of climate change and biodiversity loss. With this brief, our team at Climate & Company, together with our partners at Germanwatch, aims to provide for a clear understanding of the obligations to expect for financial institutions under each of the relevant recent EU regulatory measures related to sustainability disclosure and due diligence. The case of deforestation This is done by illustrating the respective obligations…

Publication

Corporate Non-Financial Disclosure: How can the EU and the US align?

May 12, 2022 - We analyses the current state of corporate sustainability disclosure, conceptualising reasons for greater international alignment and recommendations and potential next steps for both the EU and the US.Released in January 2022 and updated in May 2022 to reflect the latest developments of the SEC proposal on climate related disclosure, this paper analyses the current state of corporate sustainability disclosure, conceptualising reasons for greater international alignment and recommendations and potential next steps for both the EU and the US. Find the latest updates on p. 26.

Publication

Biodiversity Disclosure on COP15’s Agenda: Action Items for Policymakers

April 25, 2022 - This article discusses why corporate biodiversity disclosure regulation should be on top of policymakers’ agenda heading into COP15 in Montreal and explains the set of recommendations we developed in order to implement corporate biodiversity disclosure globally.Our latest article discusses why corporate biodiversity disclosure regulation should be on top of policymakers’ agenda heading into COP15 in Montreal, Canada this December and explain the set of recommendations we developed in order to implement corporate biodiversity disclosure globally. In December, all eyes will be on Montreal, Canada as world leaders congregate for the second part of the Convention for Biological Diversity’s COP 15 meeting, chaired by China. Top priority on the meeting agenda is finalising the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Often obscured by the prominence of the climate crisis, the biodiversity crisis is steadily earning its spot as…

Publication

Policy Brief: Supply Chains in the Spotlight – The role of supply chain (disclosure) regulations

March 31, 2022 - Most of the negative environmental impacts resulting from EU manufacturing and retail take place in the supply chain. Nevertheless, transparency on the supply chain, which helps to identify risks and opportunities and reduces market inefficiencies, remains low.Most of the negative environmental impacts resulting from EU manufacturing and retail take place in the supply chain. Nevertheless, transparency on the supply chain, which helps to identify risks and opportunities and reduces market inefficiencies, remains low. To tackle this issue, the European Commission proposed the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive to enhance due diligence actions and transparency along the supply chain. Moreover, the Regulation of Deforestation-free Products shall ban deforestation-linked products from the EU market. In this analysis, we demonstrate that the current availability of supply chain data is limited. Moreover, we examine the scope of the proposed Corporate…

Publication

Policy Brief: Germany’s G7 presidency is an opportunity to promote global ESG reporting

February 21, 2022 - This policy brief highlights the opportunities for Germany to put sustainability disclosure regulation high on the G7 agenda in 2022 and start setting ambitious international standards to facilitate the flow of sustainable capitals globally.Developed together with the Sustainable Finance Research Platform and the University of Hamburg, this policy brief highlights the opportunities for Germany to put sustainability disclosure regulation high on the G7 agenda in 2022 and start setting ambitious international standards to facilitate the flow of sustainable capitals globally. Read our recommendations in our policy brief.

Publication

Report: State and trends of international ESG disclosure policy measures

November 4, 2021 - Discover our most recent research output on ‘Global Trends towards more Transparency in Sustainable Finance’.Published on November 4th 2021, the second IPSF report focuses on the international comparison of taxonomies and on sustainability-related disclosure is published. The release coincides with the crucial discussions on Sustainable Finance at COP26 in Glasgow. Discover our most recent research output on ‘Global Trends towards more Transparency in Sustainable Finance’.

Publication

Germany: On the way to a leading sustainable finance hub?

May 5, 2021 - Germany adopted its first ever Sustainable Finance Strategy. This is a short and timely commentary.Today, Germany adopted its first ever Sustainable Finance Strategy. It is a major step to activate the central role of the financial sector in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and toward becoming a key player in shaping the sustainable financial discourse in the EU and worldwide. Climate & Company welcomes the ambitious plan. The 26 individual measures focus on increasing transparency for non-financial information, better risk management, advocate a European approach and international cooperation and address federal funding instruments.

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Katharina Erdmann

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Latest released papers

Investor Impact in Transition Finance: Learning from Ecolabels

Remarks on UK’s proposed transition investment label

A next step for biodiversity disclosure: building on the GBF and existing tools and measures

Report: When Finance Talks Nature

Sustainability due diligence and reporting obligations for financial institutions in EU policies

Corporate Non-Financial Disclosure: How can the EU and the US align?

Biodiversity Disclosure on COP15’s Agenda: Action Items for Policymakers

Policy Brief: Supply Chains in the Spotlight – The role of supply chain (disclosure) regulations

Policy Brief: Germany’s G7 presidency is an opportunity to promote global ESG reporting

Report: State and trends of international ESG disclosure policy measures

Germany: On the way to a leading sustainable finance hub?

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