ESG and sustainability
ESG and sustainability
Context
The goal for the EU Commission is “to reconcile the economy with our planet, to reconcile the way we produce and the way we consume with our planet, and to make it work for our people”. The EU leaders recognise notably that the transition to climate neutrality would bring significant opportunities, such as potential for economic growth, business and technological development.
It is worth therefore discussing the conditions to foster investment in sustainable projects. Indeed, while according to the EIB 2019 economic investment report, the investment activity in the European Union had recovered from the recession following the financial crisis, the report stresses that the investment required notably to the transition to a net zero-carbon economy is not yet on track.
Indeed, an effective and swift-enough transition requires in particular an un precedented effort from citizens, consumers, SMEs, etc. and in particular that they foster sustainable investments. However, progress in this area result from a complex combination of forward-looking targets, transparency tools, governance arrangements, financing/risk reduction facilities and efficient incentivisation frameworks.
Such a complexity is further compounded by a context of ever higher indebted EU economies focused on growth relaunch in the Covid19 pandemic context. This requires turning the Green Deal into an indispensable tool to set the policies that will enable reducing risks in the EU, be they climate or biodiversity related, and bring about additional growth opportunities in the EU.
Contributions to the policy debate
Extracted from the main Eurofi publications (Regulatory Updates, Views Magazines and Conference Summaries)
Key Eurofi
documents
Eurofi policy notes
The international harmonisation of ESG standards: a challenge and a need - April 2021
The financial and non-financial challenges of the Green Deal - April 2020
Session summaries
Climate and sustainability risks in the banking sector - Ljubljana Financial Forum - September 2021
Prospects of global and EU ESG standards converging - Lisbon Virtual Seminar - April 2021
Climate risk implications for the EU financial sector - Lisbon Virtual Seminar - April 2021
Fostering investment in sustainable projects - Helsinki Financial Forum - September 2019
Policies for addressing climate change risks - Helsinki Financial Forum - September 2019
Public and private
sector views
Clarifying the sustainable investment universe - September 2022 new
Carlo Comporti - Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa | Paul Tang - European Parliament | Birgit Puck - Austrian Financial Market Authority | Benoît de Juvigny - Autorité des Marchés Financiers | Natalie Westerbarkey - Fidelity International | Christina Papaconstantinou - Bank of Greece | Jessica Ground - Capital Group
Prospects and challenges faced by the green transition - September 2022 new
Sylvie Goulard - Banque de France | Elizabeth Mccaul - European Central Bank | Mario Nava - European Commission | Arne Staal - London Stock Exchange Group | Shinsuke Toda - Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. / Mizuho Bank, Ltd.
Transition pathways: definition and adoption challenges - September 2022 new
Sylvie Goulard - Banque de France | Sacha Sadan - Financial Conduct Authority | Antje Stobbe - Allianz Global Investors | Melissa Ocampo - SMBC Bank International plc | Sinthuja Yogarajah - Federated Hermes Limited | Angus Graham - UBS