Background
Sustainable finance is one of the main pillars of the European Green Deal, with the European Commission foreseeing a key role for the private sector in financing the green transition.
The proposed EU TAXONOMY affecting investment in businesses according to their “green” credentials is therefore of great significance to Member States’ NECPs.
The successful implementation of 2030 and 2050 Transition goals must be achieved across all Member States and the Commission recognises that significant investment must come from the private sector to ensure this happens. If there is a danger that the goalposts are moved then there is also a danger that important transition goals will be missed.
For example, how will the proposed criteria for green (or not) EU Taxonomy effect the role of gas? How will they affect investment in key energy consumers such as large industrials and the motor trade?
The investment landscape is in fine balance and we will discuss how this type of regulatory proposal, if law-makers are not given the benefit of understanding its full implications for key nations and businesses, could become a tipping point, undermining current ambitions for a clean energy Transition across the bloc. In particular, potentially jeopardising a Just Transition in Member States within CEE such as Poland.
To exact the relevant arguments in a public discussion, we are inviting you to join this fascinating debate to get valuable insights into how the Commission’s proposals, expected shortly, could affect the status quo and consider the panellists recommendations.
In its work on sustainable finance the European Commission was advised first by the High-Level Expert Group on Sustainable Finance, later by the Technical Expert Group and currently it is being advised by the Platform on Sustainable Finance (PSF).
Some actors see an important constraint in the development of sustainable finance in the EU being the limited knowledge and understanding of its importance for the Central European and Eastern European Countries (CEECs), for which the green transition will be a huge challenge due to their different starting points, the need to exit from coal and limited resources to do that. Unfortunately this constraint has not yet been resolved by the Technical Expert Group. The work of the Platform has only just started so it still has the possibility to enhance the knowledge and understanding regarding its work and sustainable finance in CEECs.
Register for our discussion on February 22 to hear from the experts. The panel features representatives from the Platform on Sustainable Finance, EU policymakers and actors from CEECs ready to debate the future development of sustainable finance in the EU.
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PANELLISTS
Nancy Saich
Chief Climate Expert, European Investment Bank (EIB)
A chartered civil engineer who specialised early in her career in transport projects and more specifically in ports and coastal work. 25 years ago, she became involved in the discussions in the maritime engineering industry on the challenges of incorporating climate change impacts into the design guidance for maritime projects. This was the beginning of her close interest in climate change. After 13 years of work as a consulting engineer, she joined the European Investment Bank in 1998. Nancy is one of the longest standing members of the Bank’s Environmental Assessment Group, providing the Bank’s Project Teams with due diligence support on environmental and climate matters on a wide range of projects funded by the Bank. She is also a founder member of the Bank’s Inter-Directorate Climate Working Group. Following her move to the Bank’s Environment, Climate and Social Office in 2011, Nancy has a specific role as EIB’s Chief Climate Change Expert, and is responsible for leading the work on Paris Alignment with other MDBs, Climate Finance definitions and impact reporting, including the Carbon Footprint of the Bank’s Project portfolio. She also works on the definitions and impact reporting for the Bank’s Green Bonds – the EIB’s Climate Awareness Bonds, and works closely with other Finance Institutions on impact reporting harmonisation. Most recently, since 2018, Nancy was a Member of the EU’s “TEG” - Technical Expert Group on Sustainable Finance, and has now joined the EU Platform for Sustainable Finance as Rapporteur for the “harmful and neutral” taxonomy group.
Pawel Straczyński,
Deputy CEO, PGE POLAND
Mr. Paweł Strączyński graduated from University of Economics in Wrocław, Faculty of National Economy, major: finance and banking and Master of Business Administration - Executive MBA, specialisation in management of medium and large enterprises. Since February 2020 he is Vice-President of PGE for Finance. Prior to that, since November 2018 until February 2020, he has held position of the Vice-President of the Management Board of Zespół Elektrociepłowni Wrocławskich KOGENERACJA S.A., an energy company engaged in the generation of heat and electrical power and the transmission and distribution of heat in Wrocław. From April 2018 until February 2019, he was Vice-President of the Management Board of ZOWER Sp. z o.o. (a company from the PGE Energia Ciepła S.A. group). From 2016 to 2018, he was a Member of the Management Board of Przedsiębiorstwo Energetyki Cieplnej S.A., of Spółka Energetyczna "Jastrzębie" S.A., and of PGNiG Termika Energetyka Przemysłowa S.A. In the years 2010-2012, he was a Member of the Management Board of PROTEKTOR S.A., and then of the companies in Polska Grupa Biogazowa (the Polish Biogas Group). In 2005-2010, he was the finance director and proxy of the Polish division of Steinhoff International Holding. In the years 2002-2005, he was the Chief Accountant in the company ASP Polska sp. o.o.
Ian Simm
CEO and Founder, IMPAX Asset Management
Ian is Founder and Chief Executive of Impax Asset Management, one of the world’s leading investment managers investing in the sustainable economy since 1998. Ian is a board member of numerous industry-leading climate change advisory groups. He has degrees in physics from Cambridge University and public administration from Harvard University
Ondřej KnotekMEP, RENEW EUROPE
Regional Development Committee (Shadow on Common Provision Regulation, and Just Transition Fund), Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee, Special Committee on Beating Cancer.
Mieczyslaw Groszek
Member of High Level Expert Group on Sustainable Finance, European Commission
CEO Cashless Poland Foundation, member of High Level Expert Group on Sustainable Finance European Commission, Bruxelles, Vice President of the Polish Bank Association, CEO of BRE Leasing; CEO of MHB Mitelleuropäische Handelsbank AG Deutsch-Polnische Bank in Frankfurt; Executive Vice President (asset management), BRE Bank, Warsaw;Vice President and CEO of Polish Development Bank); assistant professor at the Warsaw School of Economics; Ph. D. in Moscow Institut of International Relations, MoA at the Warsaw School of Economics Author of numerous publications.
Matthew James (Moderator)
Managing Director, ENERGY POST
Working in energy communications for past 11 years, first as Managing Director of Synergy, organisers of European Utility Week, then, since 2014, at Energy Post. Energy Post is read by over 50,000 energy professionals every month. It is technology neutral, offering a platform for experts from all areas of the energy sector to share their knowledge. The Transition is at the heart of our reports.
