In this episode, special guests Krzysztof Kaminski, Chairman of Sustainable Investment Forum Poland (POLSIF) and Robert Sroka, Partner at Abris Capital Partners, join Pierre Garrault, Eurosif’s Senior Policy Adviser, to discuss different approaches to sustainability investments and the development of sustainable finance in Poland and the wider CEE region. If you're interested in the state of the sustainable finance market and the implementation of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) in Central and Eastern Europe, or simply curious about POLSIF, its mission, and activities in driving sustainable finance in Poland, then this is the episode for you! During the episode, Krzysztof and Robert also share their insights on key sustainable investment strategies like ‘impact investment’, ‘best in class’, ‘thematic’ and ‘exclusion-based’ investments, and look ahead to the future of sustainable investment in the region, what needs to be done and what this all means for investors. 📌 Recorded July 2024.

In this episode, special guest Dan Dionisie, Head of Unit for Company Law within DG JUST of the European Commission and Pierre Garrault, Eurosif’s Senior Policy Adviser, speak about the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). If you're interested in the CSDDD, which was recently published in the Official Journal of the European Union, its purpose, the final text and what it will mean for companies and investors, including financial institutions, then this podcast is well worth a listen! During the episode, Dan also shares his insights on how the European Commission intends to coordinate transition plan-related requirements across the CSDDD and CSRD and looks ahead to the new European mandate and potential future areas of work for DG JUST, including a possible review of CSDDD and what lies ahead for the Shareholder Rights Directive (SRD). 📌 Recorded June 2024.

👉 In this episode, special guest Helena Viñes Fiestas, Chair of the EU Platform on Sustainable Finance and Aleksandra Palinska, Eurosif’s Executive Director, discuss the EU Taxonomy, the latest and future work of the Platform, including a draft methodology on monitoring capital flows, and much more! 👥 Alongside her role as the Chair of the EU Platform on Sustainable Finance, Helena is also co-Chair of the Taskforce on Net Zero Policy and Commissioner of the Spanish Financial Market Authority. Helena was previously Global Head of Sustainability at BNP Paribas Asset Management and a Member of the EU Technical Expert Group on Sustainable Finance and the UN Secretary General High-Level Expert Group on Net Zero Pledges. 💬 In this podcast, Helena and Aleksandra look ahead to what is next for the future development of the EU Taxonomy, including the political viability of extending the framework in the future to incorporate significantly harmful economic activities and the possibility of creating a social taxonomy. Helena also shares her insights on the latest data on the application and implementation of the EU Taxonomy and gives her recommendations for the future EU Sustainable Finance Framework. 🎧 We hope you enjoy listening!

👉 In this episode, special guest Kim Smouter-Umans, Executive Director of the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) and Pierre Garrault, Eurosif’s Senior Policy Adviser, discuss the intersection between DEI and climate justice throughout ENAR’s activities, including the ENAR Foundation’s Racial and Economic Justice Investment Fund, as well as Eurosif’s Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) workstream. 👥 Founded in 1998, ENAR is a pan-European anti-racism network that aims to make decisive progress towards racial equality in all EU Member States and ultimately, to end structural racism and discrimination in the European Union. Prior to joining ENAR, Kim was Head of Public Affairs at (ESOMAR) the global association for market social and opinion research and was also one of the founding fathers of the ESOMAR Foundation, its charitable arm. 💬 During the discussion, Kim outlines the specific impacts of climate change on marginalised communities and gives his perspective on ways to scale up investment from a broader range of financial market participants in support of these communities, in order to ensure a just and fair transition. Kim also gives his view on the perceived challenges of diversity data gathering via sustainability reporting and looks ahead to the European elections and what can be done to raise awareness of these issues among EU decision-makers. 🎧 We hope you enjoy listening!

👉 In this episode, special guest Sven Gentner, Head of Unit for corporate reporting, audit and credit rating agencies within DG FISMA and Aleksandra Palinska, Eurosif’s Executive Director, discuss CSRD, ESRS, CSDDD, the interoperability of sustainability standards and much more. 👥 Sven joined the European Commission in 2004 and has served in numerous positions both in Brussels and abroad. Sven previously headed DG FISMA’s unit in charge of asset management, that amongst others developed the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) and was a counsellor in the Economic and Financial Affairs Section of the Delegation of the European Union to the United States. 💬 In this podcast, Aleksandra and Sven discuss the achievements of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and European Sustainability Reporting Standards, and how the requirements for these frameworks will coordinate with other EU regulations, like the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. Sven also gives his insight on the interoperability of sustainability reporting between EU and wider international standards like ISSB and looks ahead to the development of sector-specific standards in the future. 🎧 We hope you enjoy listening!

👉 In this episode, Paul Tang, a senior member of the European Parliament, and Aleksandra Palinska, Eurosif’s Executive Director, discuss SFDR, EUGBS and EU Sustainable Finance. 👥 Paul, representing the Dutch Labour Party (Partij van de Arbeid – PvdA) in the European group of Socialists and Democrats, has been rapporteur for the European Parliament on numerous high-profile files, including the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), the EU Green Bond Standard (EUGBS), and Simple, Transparent and Standardised Securitisations. After ten years, Paul will be stepping down from the European Parliament when the body is dissolved ahead of European elections taking place in June.   💬 In this podcast, Aleksandra and Paul discuss the review of SFDR, the transition perspective of the European Green Bond standards and reflect on the current state and future of EU sustainable finance. Paul also shares his thoughts on the European elections later this year and what these may mean for the future of sustainable finance in the EU.   🎧 We hope you enjoy listening!

🎙️ 🌱 Sustainability Bridges – Episode 19 👉 In this episode, Nora Sandahl, Head of Sustainability at Datia, and Aleksandra Palinska discuss the implementation of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), the related opportunities as well as the challenges. They also talk about the broader SFDR review and what can be done to improve the SFDR in the future. 👥 Datia is a climate fintech company that offers automation services to optimise sustainable finance reporting, ESG analysis and helps investors' transition to sustainable finance, serving asset managers, asset owners, wealth advisors, and tech platforms with a client base of over €200B+ in assets under management. 🎧 We hope you enjoy listening!

🎙️ 🌱 Sustainability Bridges – Episode 18 👉 In this episode, Allan Jorgensen, Head of the OECD Centre for Responsible Business Conduct, and Aleksandra Palinska, Eurosif Executive Director, discuss the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises (MNE) on Responsible Business Conduct and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) which is in the final stages of negotiations among the EU institutions. 👥 Allan has two decades of experience working on sustainable business and finance in both the private and public sectors. Prior to joining the OECD, he was Head of Sustainable Trade at global logistics giant A.P. Moller-Maersk and Head of Human Rights and Business at the Danish Institute for Human Rights. 🎤 In the podcast, Allan explains the significance of the OECD’s MNE Guidelines as a global framework for responsible business conduct and human rights. He also speaks about the specific guidance for financial institutions that was developed based on established best practices in the sector, covering both upstream and downstream value chain. Allan highlights the importance of regional regulatory developments like the CSDDD to ensure that environmental and human rights due diligence is effectively enacted and implemented, based on the principles reflected in the OECD guidelines. 🎧 We hope you enjoy listening!

🎙️ 🌱 Sustainability Bridges – Episode 17 👉 In this episode, Hadewych Kuiper, Managing Director of Triodos Investment Management and Aleksandra Palinska, Eurosif Executive Director, speak about the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and the review of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). 👥 Hadewych joined Triodos in 2013, serving as Commercial Director before being appointed Managing Director in 2022. In addition to her role at Triodos, Hadewych is also a Board Member of the Netherlands Advisory Board on impact investing. 🎤 As part of the discussion, Hadewych reiterates the importance of including financial institutions in the scope of the CSDDD and explains how these institutions can effectively perform environmental and human rights due diligence. 👉 Hadewych emphasised that the requirement to adopt transition plans including climate targets is a crucial component of this Directive, and that the obligation to implement them is a necessity to turn long-term pledges into concrete action. 👉 On SFDR, Hadewych highlights that this regulation significantly increased transparency on sustainability matters in investment decisions while underlining the fact that changes are needed to ensure capitals flows are further shifted to more sustainable companies. 🎧 We hope you enjoy listening!

🎙️ 🌱 Sustainability Bridges – Episode 16 👉 In this episode, Richard Kooloos, Global Head of Social Impact & Human Rights at the ABN AMRO Sustainability Centre of Excellence, and Aleksandra Palinska, Eurosif Executive Director, speak about the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (#CSDDD). Richard describes the main components of the directive, explains why it is important to have them embedded in the EU law, and clarifies how financial institutions, particularly banks, can effectively perform due diligence through value chain. 👥 In addition to his role at ABN AMRO, Richard is also Chairman of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership Banking Environment Initiative and Chairman of the Sustainability platform of the Dutch Banking Association. Richard was also previously Director of Group Sustainability at ABM AMRO and the CEO of ABN AMRO Greenbank. 🎤 As part of the discussion, Richard highlights the historical significance of the CSDDD as a watershed piece of legislation that is likely to become a global standard. He emphasises the importance of including the financial sector, including banks, in the directive’s scope and explains how banks can benefit from that. 🎧 We hope you enjoy listening!

🎙️ 🌱 Sustainability Bridges – Episode 15 👉 In this episode Aleksandra Palinska and special guest, Lisa Hayles, Director of International Shareholder Advocacy at Trillium Asset Management, discuss Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) and how to promote it through investments. Lisa also elaborates on the definition of climate justice and just transition, investing through the lens of anti-racism and building diversity and inclusion from a racial and ethnic origin perspective as well as related challenges and opportunities, addressing and unpacking the challenging nature of language and framing. 👥 Lisa has more than 20 years’ experience advising institutional and individual investors on sustainable investing approaches in North America and Europe and is a frequent speaker on gender equality and racial justice. Beyond her work with Trillium, Lisa is co-founder of the Racial Justice Investing Coalition and sits on the board of the Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility. 🎤 As part of the discussion, Lisa asserted that investors can and should play a role in addressing systemic challenges and barriers to incorporating and promoting JEDI. 🎧 We hope you enjoy listening!

🎙️🌱 Sustainability Bridges – Episode 14 👉 In this episode Aleksandra Palinska and special guest, Professor Lokke Moerel, one of the world’s best-known privacy & cyber advisors, discuss the importance, benefits and challenges of collecting and disclosing corporate data on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and how to carry this out in compliance with GDPR. 👥 Prof. Moerel is a lawyer in the global Privacy & Security team of Morrison & Foerster, and member of its ESG Steering Committee. She is also professor of Global Technology and Law at Tilburg University, a member of the Dutch Cyber Security Council (the advisory body of the Dutch cabinet on cybersecurity), and a member of the Monitoring Committee of the Dutch Corporate Governance Code. 📖 Prof. Moerel is also the leading global expert on Binding Corporate Rules (BCR) and authored a textbook which is considered the best publication on the topic. 🎧 We hope you enjoy listening!

🎙️ 🌱 Sustainability Bridges – Episode 13 👉 In this episode, Aleksandra Palinska and special guest, Philippe Zaouati, Founder and CEO of Mirova, discuss the challenges fund managers face when making sustainable investment decisions, the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) and the development of the sustainable finance agenda in the EU and around the world. 👥 Mirova is a leading sustainable investment and asset management firm and a pioneer in sustainable finance that has developed its own internationally recognised certification system, the BCorpTM certification label. 🎤 Philippe questioned some of the latest changes to the first set of ESRS, in particular that too much leeway has been given to the reporting companies regarding disclosing information which investors absolutely need for their investment decisions and to prepare their own sustainability-related disclosures. In this context, together with 90+ companies, Mirova co-signed the investor and financial industry letter by Eurosif, EFAMA, PRI, IIGCC, UNEPFI calling for ambitious ESRS. 👉 Read the joint letter here 🎧 We hope you enjoy listening!

🎙️ 🌱Sustainability Bridges – Episode 12 👉 In this episode Aleksandra Palinska and special guest, Will Martindale, discuss the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), global sustainability reporting standards developed by ISSB, the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and the evolution of the sustainable finance regulatory framework in the EU and beyond. 👥 Will Martindale is Co-Head of sustainability at Cardano, a risk and investment specialist, and also Head of Sustainability at NOW: Pensions. Will has more than a decade of experience in sustainable finance and before joining Cardano was Director of Policy and Research at the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). 🎤 As part of the discussion, Will stressed the importance of increasing the availability of quality, comparable and reliable ESG data on investee companies. In this context, together with 90+ companies, Cardano co-signed the investor and financial industry letter by Eurosif, EFAMA, PRI, IIGCC and UNEPFI calling for ambitious European Sustainability Reporting Standards #ESRS 👉 Read the joint letter here   🎧 We hope you enjoy listening!

🎙️ 🌱Sustainability Bridges – Episode 11 👉 In this episode, Nora Sandahl, Vlada Olivia Wester and Aleksandra Palinska discuss the challenges and opportunities of implementing the EU Taxonomy Regulation and the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) for companies as well as disclosure and availability of ESG data in general. 👥 Nora is Head of Sustainability, and Vlada Head of Product at Datia, a Fintech company that offers automation to optimize sustainable finance reporting and ESG analysis for asset managers, wealth managers and other financial market participants. 🎤 They share the advantages and difficulties FMPs experience with sustainable finance, what developments they expect in the future and why automation will be crucial.  🎧 Enjoy listening!

🎙️ 🌱 Sustainability Bridges - Episode 10 👉 In this episode, Sirpa Pietikäinen and Aleksandra Palinska discuss the EU Green Bonds standard, the EU Taxonomy, the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and the evolution of the sustainable finance regulatory framework. 👥 Sirpa has been a member of the European Parliament since 2008 and belongs to the EPP Group (Christian Democrats) and the Finnish Kansallinen Kokoomus. She is an active member of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. 🎤 Sirpa Pietikäinen shares her views on what is needed to make sustainable finance impactful, for example, in the context of the currently debated CSDDD. She explains the importance of mandatory corporate sustainability targets and transition plans, appropriately incentivising corporate executives to pursue and achieve sustainability targets, and why we need to go beyond climate-related objectives. 🎧 Enjoy listening!

🎙️ 🌱 Sustainability Bridges - Episode 9 👉 In this episode, Helena Viñes Fiestas and Aleksandra Palinska discuss the EU Taxonomy and the evolution of the sustainable finance regulatory framework in the EU and beyond. 👥 Helena is Commissioner of the Spanish Financial Market Authority, Member of the UN Secretary General High Level Expert Group on Net Zero Pledges. 📍Note that the episode was recorded in December 2022, before she was appointed the Chair of the new EU Platform on Sustainable Finance. 🎤 Helena Viñes Fiestas shares her experiences advancing sustainable finance both in the public and private sectors for 20 years. 🎧 Enjoy listening!

🎙️ 🌱 Sustainability Bridges - Episode 8 👥Eurosif Executive Director, Aleksandra Palinska, is discussing with MEP Paul Tang, senior member of the European Parliament and member of the Socialist and Democrats Group in the European Parliament. 🎤 Listen to a conversation where MEP Paul Tang provides insights about Sustainable investing. 👉 The discussion focusses on the Sustainable finance framework and the way it can be improved, the implementation of the SFDR and a topic increasingly attracting attention: greenwashing.  🎧 Enjoy your listening!

🎙️ 🌱 Sustainability Bridges - Episode 7 👥Eurosif former Executive Director, Victor van Hoorn, is discussing with Adrie Heinsbroek, Chief Sustainability Officer at NN Investment Partners. 🎤 With more than 15 years of experience in analysing sustainability performance and strategies, Adrie Heinsbroek provides in this episode, some insights into the major challenges ahead for Sustainable Investment. 👉 The discussion focusses on the need to decarbonise our economy. Current external factor increasing rish taking in investment strategies will be discussed as well as specific sectors challenges. 🎧 Enjoy your listening!

🎙️ 🌱 Sustainability Bridges - Episode 6 👥Eurosif former Executive Director, Victor van Hoorn, is discussing with Hortense Bioy, Global Director of sustainability research at Morningstar. 🎤 With more than 12 years of experience at Morningstar, Hortense Bioy provides in this podcast, some insights to better understand the current market trends. 👉 The discussion focusses on the #SFDR and its implementation challenges but also the ways investor strategies can help companies in their transition to greener activities. Finally, the requirements of #MiFIDII and its recent amendments will be discussed. 🎧 Enjoy your listening!