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Sustainability Bridges

Sustainability Bridges

By Eurosif

🎙️ 🌱 #SustainabilityBridges

Sustainability Bridges is a Eurosif podcast that aims to bridge the gap between policymaking and the practice of sustainable investing. In this podcast you can expect a 30-40 minute conversation between Eurosif's Executive Director and a distinguished guest, about the EU Sustainable Finance framework; its long-term strategy, related EU regulations and their future development, the challenges of implementation but also possible improvements.

🎧 Enjoy listening!
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#Episode 10 – Conversation with Sirpa Pietikäinen

Sustainability BridgesMar 21, 2023

00:00
48:00
#Episode 20 - Conversation with Paul Tang

#Episode 20 - Conversation with Paul Tang

👉 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!

Feb 27, 202435:08
#Episode 19 - Conversation with Nora Sandahl

#Episode 19 - Conversation with Nora Sandahl

🎙️ 🌱 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!

Dec 19, 202348:38
#Episode 18 - Conversation with Allan Jorgensen

#Episode 18 - Conversation with Allan Jorgensen

🎙️ 🌱 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!

Dec 06, 202328:35
#Episode 17 - Conversation with Hadewych Kuiper

#Episode 17 - Conversation with Hadewych Kuiper

🎙️ 🌱 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!

Nov 28, 202343:21
#Episode 16 - Conversation with Richard Kooloos

#Episode 16 - Conversation with Richard Kooloos

🎙️ 🌱 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!

Oct 10, 202338:37
#Episode 15 - Conversation with Lisa Hayles

#Episode 15 - Conversation with Lisa Hayles

🎙️ 🌱 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!

Sep 13, 202339:05
#Episode 14 - Conversation with Lokke Moerel

#Episode 14 - Conversation with Lokke Moerel

🎙️🌱 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!

Aug 29, 202335:12
#Episode 13 - Conversation with Philippe Zaouati

#Episode 13 - Conversation with Philippe Zaouati

🎙️ 🌱 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!

Jul 25, 202344:02
#Episode 12 - Conversation with Will Martindale

#Episode 12 - Conversation with Will Martindale

🎙️ 🌱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!

Jul 13, 202338:13
#Episode 11 – Conversation with Datia's team

#Episode 11 – Conversation with Datia's team

🎙️ 🌱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!

Apr 20, 202335:56
#Episode 10 – Conversation with Sirpa Pietikäinen

#Episode 10 – Conversation with Sirpa Pietikäinen

🎙️ 🌱 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!

Mar 21, 202348:00
 #Episode 9 – Conversation with Helena Viñes Fiestas

#Episode 9 – Conversation with Helena Viñes Fiestas

🎙️ 🌱 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!

Feb 16, 202337:53
#Episode 8 - Conversation with Paul Tang

#Episode 8 - Conversation with Paul Tang

🎙️ 🌱 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!

Nov 09, 202232:07
#Episode 7 - Conversation with Adrie Heinsbroek

#Episode 7 - Conversation with Adrie Heinsbroek

🎙️ 🌱 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!

Oct 19, 202227:06
#Episode 6 - Conversation with Hortense Bioy

#Episode 6 - Conversation with Hortense Bioy

🎙️ 🌱 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!

Sep 28, 202226:25
#Episode 5 - Conversation with Clémence Humeau

#Episode 5 - Conversation with Clémence Humeau

🎙️ 🌱 Sustainability Bridges - Episode 5

👥 Eurosif former Executive Director, Victor van Hoorn, is discussing with Clémence Humeau, Head of Sustainability Coordination & Governance at AXA Investment Managers.

🎤 with more than 10 years of experience at AXA Investment Managers, Clémence Humeau is the Head of Sustainability Coordination & Governance since March 2021.  

👉 The discussion focusses on how the SFDR is implemented and what are the current challenges practitioners may face. The EU Taxonomy will aslo be discussed as well as the evolution of the market after the entry into force of the MiFIDII requirements.


🎧 Enjoy your listening!

Sep 07, 202227:31
#Episode 4 - Conversation with Julian Kölbel

#Episode 4 - Conversation with Julian Kölbel

🎙️ 🌱 Sustainability Bridges - Episode 4

👥 Eurosif former Executive Director, Victor van Hoorn, is discussing with an assistant professor on sustainable finance at the University of St Gallen, working on Sustainability linked bonds and ESG Ratings.

🎤 Julian Kölbel, assistant professor at the University of St Gallen, used to work at the Center for Sustainable Finance and Private Wealth (CSP) at the University of Zurich.

👉Sustainability-linked bonds, ESG ratings and scores, EU legislation on Sustainable Finance will be discussed during this insightful conversation.

🎧 Enjoy your listening!

Aug 17, 202235:28
#Episode 3 - Conversation with Natasha Cazenave

#Episode 3 - Conversation with Natasha Cazenave

🎙️ 🌱 Sustainability Bridges - Episode 3

👥 Eurosif former Executive Director, Victor van Hoorn, is discussing with the Executive Director of the European Security Market Authority (ESMA).

🎤 Ms Natasha Cazenave, Executive Director of ESMA is working on implementing the ESMA sustainable finance roadmap 2022-2024. 

👉SFDR but also, CSRD and the current evolution of the European Security Authorities' role will be raised during this insightful conversation

🎧 Enjoy your listening!

Jul 27, 202231:32
#Episode 2 - Conversation with Florian Heeb

#Episode 2 - Conversation with Florian Heeb

🎙️ 🌱 Sustainability Bridges - Episode 2

👥 Eurosif Executive Director, Victor van Hoorn, is discussing with a researcher at the Center for Sustainable Finance and Private Wealth (CSP), working on the notion of investor impact and company impact.

🎤 Florian Heeb, researcher at the Center for Sustainable Finance and Private Wealth (CSP) at the University of Zurich.

👉 #ImpactInvesting but also, #SFDR and #MiFIDII requirements will be discussed during this insightful conversation.

🎧 Enjoy your listening!

Jul 06, 202234:14
#Episode 1 - Conversation with Alain Deckers

#Episode 1 - Conversation with Alain Deckers

🎙️ 🌱 Sustainability Bridges - Episode 1

👥 Eurosif Executive Director, Victor van Hoorn, is discussing with a member of the European Commission working on the #EUSustainableFinance Agenda.

🎤 Mr Alain Deckers, Head of Unit of the Asset management at the Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union at the European Commission, will speak on his own behalf.

👉#SFDR but also, #CSRD and #Data will be raised during this insightful conversation

🎧 Enjoy your listening!

Jun 15, 202221:26
#Episode 0 - Presentation of the Eurosif Podcast

#Episode 0 - Presentation of the Eurosif Podcast

🎙️ 🌱 Sustainability Bridges - Episode 0

Get to know more about the launch of this Eurosif Podcast. In this episode, Marie Lavayssière, Eurosif Communication Manager, explains in less than 7 minutes, the structure but also, the objectives and the themes that this Eurosif Podcast aims to cover.

🎧 Enjoy your listening!

Jun 15, 202206:47