Sustainability Bridges – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, Eurosif Chair Nathalie Dogniez is joined byHélène Bussières, Head of the Asset Management Unit at the European Commission’s DG FISMA, to unpack the European Commission’s long-awaited proposal to review the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR).

The discussion explores why the SFDR is being overhauled,the key changes proposed by the Commission, and what they mean in practice for investors. From the introduction of new categories of sustainability-related products and the future of the “sustainable investment” concept, to changes in disclosures on adverse impacts (PAIs) and Taxonomy alignment, entity-level reporting and scope, this episode provides a clear overview of one of the most consequential files in EU sustainable finance.

The conversation also looks ahead to how the new frameworkwill interact with national labels and other EU rules, and what investors can expect in terms of legislative next steps and implementation timelines.

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Riyong Kim, Head of Sustainability at the European Environment Agency (EEA).

Drawing on the EEA’s flagship report “Europe’s Environment2025”, our conversation explores the current state of Europe’s environment, from serious challenges to areas of real progress, and what these findings mean for the continent’s sustainability trajectory and economy.

We focus of the episode is Europe’s persistent biodiversity investment gap. Despite over €50 billion being allocated annually, funding remains insufficient, with an estimated €21 billion still needed each year to meet the EU’s 2030 biodiversity objectives. We examine investment obstacles and discuss how we can close the gap through public and private financing, including better data availability, improved value metrics, and stronger policy coherence.

👉 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!