DGNB Sus­tain­abil­ity Day

Welcome address by Andreas Schwarz MdL and kick-off discussion

• Andreas Schwarz, Chairman of the Parliamentary Group Grüne in the State Parliament of Baden-Württemberg
• Johannes Kreißig, CEO, DGNB
• Dr Christine Lemaitre, CEO, DGNB

Keynote session: SHIFT the mindset – thinking transformation globally

“We know we have failed” – this personal insight is the starting point for the international SHIFT initiative, which takes a critical look at architecture strategies in our global community. Instead of transporting the design principles of the Global North into other regions of the world, SHIFT advocates a radical change of perspective – based on learning from the architectural heritage of the Global South. During this session, selected initiators of SHIFT explain what this entails. The event kicks off with Prof Thomas Auer presenting the initiative, followed by a keynote speech by Nicholas Kaspareck from Casa Congo from Latin America, who will present the KuNa_Bamboo Homes for Everyone project.

• Prof Thomas Auer, TU Munich, Transsolar
• Martin Haas, owner, haascookzemmrich Studio 2050, DGNB Vice President
• Nicholas Kaspareck, Cofounder & CEO, Casa Congo

Moderator: Dr Christine Lemaitre, CEO, DGNB

Fast-track innovation – the DGNB Sustainability Challenge

It’s now something of a tradition to stage the final of the DGNB Sustainability Challenge at the DGNB Sustainability Day. During the event, finalists in three categories – Innovation, Start-ups and Research – as well as the winners of this year's special prizes showcase their ideas in fast-track pitch presentations.

As in the past, the DGNB will once again be awarding an audience prize across all categories, as well as special prizes, which you can even vote for during the day. As well as online voting, which gets underway on the day of DGNB Idea Lab and continues until 24 June 2025, voting is open to members of the public on site during the DGNB Sustainability Day.

Moderator: Felix Jansen, Head of PR, Communication and Marketing, DGNB

Spotlight Talks

Climate-positive communities – between opportunities, challenges and scarce resources

Local communities and authorities are grappling with significant challenges. Beyond limited financial and human resources, they face increasing demands for climate action and adaptation measures. Choosing which tasks to focus on and implement more quickly requires both bold decision-making and good ideas. Many communities have already launched exemplary initiatives, which is precisely where the Climate-Positive Cities and Communities programme steps in – bringing together 100 German towns and cities to share ideas.

• Prof Wulf Daseking, Former Head of Urban Planning, Freiburg,  Universität Freiburg, University of London
• Prof Dr Anke Karmann-Woessner, Head of the Urban Planning Office Karlsruhe

Moderator: Matthias Schäpers, Manager Initiatives and Climate Positive Cities, DGNB

Sustainable material choice – between planners and manufacturers

What sustainability factors do architects need to consider when choosing materials? Which products are suitable for climate-friendly, circular, resource-conserving buildings? To improve dialogue between manufacturers and planners, particularly when it comes to requirements affecting sustainable building, a new tool has been developed as part of the Phase Sustainability initiative: the Declaration of Sustainability for Building Materials. Architects and manufacturers involved in writing the declaration explain how it works in practice.

• Prof Amandus Samsøe Sattler, DGNB President; co-founder and owner, ensømble Studio Architektur
• Prof Stefan Rappold, owner, Architekturkollektiv
• Michael Scharpf, Head Sustainable Construction, Holcim Germany
• Prof Josef Steretzeder, ppa. Servicebereichsleitung, Lindner

Moderator: Johannes Kreißig, CEO, DGNB

Sustainable finance – between banks and the building sector

Everyone is talking about transformation in the building and property industry. But how will it actually be financed? And how can it be ensured that available funds are used in the right places? It’s clear that as things stand, different stakeholder groups understand (too) little about each other. In response, the DGNB recently launched its initiative on sustainable finance in construction. This round-table session will focus on the specific aims of the initiative and how the DGNB is working with banks to achieve those aims.

• Prof Thomas Auer, TU Munich, Transsolar
• Patrick Weltin, Project Officer Sustainable Finance, VfU
• Dr Julia Wernsdorfer, Senior Consultant Strategy Sustainability & Transition, ING

Moderator: Seema Issar, Senior Advisor Sustainable Finance, DGNB

In a nutshell: recent developments at the DGNB

Whether it’s a certification system, training or a study: very few organisations are as proactive as the DGNB when it comes to continuously re-examining priorities and developing offers for our network. There are so many new things happening, it’s difficult to cover everything within the time available at the DGNB Sustainability Day. So instead, we’ll ask the audience: which topics would you like us to present on stage? The agenda for this part of the event will be defined live on the day from votes cast by participants.

Evening programme

• Sustainable building around the world: a conversation with new DGNB System partners
  • Maksym Kryvosheiev, Ukrainian Green Building Council
  • Dr Christine Lemaitre, CEO, DGNB
  • Johannes Kreißig, CEO, DGNB
  • Moderator: Felix Jansen, Head of PR, Communication and Marketing, DGNB
• Keynote speech: Building in Africa
  
  Mike Schlaich’s talk revolves around a diary he kept during a six-month research semester on the African continent in 2022. The purpose of his trip was to gain insights into civil engineering in research, teaching and frontline application by travelling to twelve countries in southern and eastern Africa and looking at bridges, roads, buildings and residential buildings.
  
  In Bauen in Afrika, the book he published afterwards on building in Africa, he seeks answers to a number of questions, at the same time providing much food for thought. What resources and developments will contribute to success in tackling the enormous challenges faced on the African continent? Is there a civil engineering approach specific to each a country based on regional conditions, one that also addresses the predicted population growth? Are sustainability issues being addressed? Is there an awareness of the ‘art’ of civil engineering?
  • Prof Dr Mike Schlaich, Partner and board-member, sbp SE
• Announcement of the winners of the 2025 DGNB Sustainability Challenge