Webinar Series 3 & 10 May: Sustainable Finance with experts on the CSDDD and the CRD

On the 3rd and the 10th of May, the EEAC is organising two high-level expert webinars on sustainable finance. After the success of last October’s webinar on the CSRD, we are back to delve into two directives of the European Union. Both proposals are currently in different stages of the legislative process.  At the same time, parliaments are discussing their impact and the consequences at national level. The FRDO-CFDD, the Rli and the RNE have invited two expert panels to shed a light on the current situation.

 

On the 3rd of May we will focus on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). The legislative proposal was presented 23 Feb 2022 and the institutional trilogue for the CSDDD should start mid-2023.  The proposed directive is addressed at Member States and will cover approximately 13.000 EU companies. MS will have to ensure that large companies conduct human rights and environmental diligence at the level of own operations, operations of their subsidiaries and value chain operations of entities with which the company has an established business relationship. The webinar focuses on Article 15 of the draft directive, which will require companies to also adopt a plan to ensure their business model and strategy are compatible with the objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

This webinar aims at offering an overview on the obligation of companies to define and implement plans to ensure compatibility with the transition to a carbon neutral and sustainable economy in accordance with the latest developments of the CSDDD proposal. Beyond the implementation process, the panel of high-level experts will also address key issues such as possible supporting guidance and best practices, and the role of national initiatives to promote corporate climate commitments. Additionally, we will set out the challenges of the directive’s transposition by the Member States.

To take part in the webinar on May 3rd from 14:00- 15:30, please register here

 

  1. Opening words by the Moderator Jan VERHEEKE
  2. Presentation by Mr. Dan DIONISIE (DG JUST)
    • Mr. Dionisie will provide an overview of the key aspects of the CSDDD directive and focus on the obligation to adopt a transition plan (Art.15 of the proposal for a CSDDD). He will provide insights into the specific requirement regarding possible emission reduction objectives and how they can be included in corporate transition plans.
  3. Presentation by Ms.Anaïs BERTHIER (CLIENT EARTH)
    • Ms. Berthier will comment on the challenges and opportunities of Art.15 of the CSDDD proposal.
  4. Presentation by Mr.Günther THALLINGER (UN HLEG on the Net Zero Emissions Commitments)
    • Mr. Thallinger will present the recommendations from the UN High-Level Expert Group on the Net Zero Emissions Commitments of Non-State Entities and how they could be taken into account by Member States implementing Art.15 of the CSDDD proposal.
  5. Presentation by a Frederic HANS (New Climate Institute)
    • Mr. Hans will present the New Climate Institute Report titled our Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor (CCRM), which looks at global companies across various economic sectors.
  6. Discussion and Q&A
  7. Closing words

 

 

On the 10th of May, we focus on the Capital Requirements Directive. For the CRD, the trilogue is in April. The European Banking Authority will have a strategic mandate because it will set up many crucial modalities of transition plans such as their content, criteria and their implementation. From the moment that these plans are to be integrated into Pillar 2 of the prudential regulation, it will open up possibilities for action and sanctions by the supervisory authorities, who check whether banks’ risk management processes and capitalisation match their risk profiles.

The EEAC has invited a panel of high-level experts to address which aspects need to be taken into account to ensure that the ambitious goals of the amendments to the CRD can actually be achieved.  The panel will zoom in on the main issues discussed in the trilogue . We will also look at the leeway of the European Banking Authority in the implementation process, and the possible risks and opportunities of its mandate. Finally, zooming in on a Dutch and an English example, the webinar also focuses on what we can learn from national initiatives of transition plans in the financial sector.

To take part in the webinar on May 10th from 14:00- 15:30, please register here

 

  1. Opening words by the Moderator Jan VERHEEKE
  1. Presentation by Mr. Thierry PHILIPPONNAT (Finance Watch & EFRAG Sustainability Reporting Board)
    • Mr.Philipponnat will present the proposed amendments to the CRD regarding mandatory ESG transition plans in the banking sector: background, focus on financial stability and legislative process.
  1. Presentation by Ms. Anuschka HILKE (I4CE Institute for Climate Economics)
    • Ms.Hilke will set out her views on the conditions under which prudential transition plans could become a game changer for making financial flows consistent with the transition to climate neutrality.
  2. Presentation by Mr. James VACCARO (Climate Safe Lending Network – Delivery Group of the TPT)
    • Mr. Vaccaro  will give a presentation on the experience of the Transition Plan Taskforce (TPT) in the United Kingdom.
  3. Presentation by Ms. Gerdie KNIJP (Sustainable Finance Lab Nederland)
    • Ms. Knijp will give a presentation on the experience of the Klimaatcommitment in the Netherlands in the banking sector
  4. Discussion and Q&A
  5. Closing words