EIB at the 2021 International Association for Impact Assessment annual conference

Chair: Stephen O’Driscoll, Head of Environment, Climate and Social Policy, EIB

Panellists:

• Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea, Director for Implementation and Support to the EU Member States,  DG Environment, European Commission
• Dr Alistair Clark, Managing Director, Environment and Sustainability, EBRD  
• Eva Mayerhofer, Lead Environment and Biodiversity Specialist, EIB
• Juan Palerm, Team leader for DG INTPA’s Environment and Climate Change Mainstreaming Facility

The session discussed the latest developments regarding International Financial Institutions' (IFIs) approaches to ESG and focused on how the new policies trigger a comprehensive approach by integrating governance and equality issues in the environmental and social aspects throughout the project cycle.

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Chair: Nancy Saich, Chief Climate Change Expert, EIB

Panellists:

• Andreas Barkman, Socio-Economic Analysis programme, European Environment Agency (EEA)
• Jorim Schraven, Director of Impact and ESG Department, FMO, Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank
• Helena Viñes Fiestas, Rapporteur of Subgroup 5, EU Platform on Sustainable Finance
• Dr. Zsuzsa Banhalmi-Zakar, Lecturer, Corporate Environmental Management, James Cook University

Based on the EU’s High Level Expert Group recommendations, the European Commission has issued the Action Plan on Financing Sustainable Growth. The Action Plan aims at reorienting and increasing capital flows towards a more sustainable economy, mainstreaming sustainability into risk management and fostering transparency and long-termism. What does this mean for IFIs and Impact Assessment practitioners?

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Chair: Hakan Lucius, Head of Corporate Responsibility, EIB

Panellists:

• Prof. Dr. Stefano Battiston, Professor of Banking, University of Zurich
• Julie Becker, CEO, Luxembourg Stock Exchange
• Katie Schmitz-Eulitt, Director of Investor Outreach, SASB
• Stéphane Voisin, Head of Sustainable Finance Research Program, Institut Louis Bachelier

Following the substantial changes of the EU policy framework on Sustainable Finance, the sector is increasingly moving towards mainstreaming environmental, social and governance considerations throughout their strategies and processes. This session focused on best practices in implementing sustainable finance, based on examples from leading financial players in Europe and beyond.

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Session available only to IAIA conference participants

Chair: James Lea-Cox, Senior Environmental Advisor, EBRD

Panellists:

• Kevin D’Souza, Vice-President, Security, Sustainability & Environment, Centerra Gold
• Yasmine Pagni, Head of Social Policy, EIB
• Amy Sexton, Independent Social Performance and Sustainability Consultant
• Paul Wilkinson, Consultant at SLR

As a condition of financing, IFI-financed projects must adhere to a set of stringent environmental, social and governance (ESG) safeguards. This session explored emerging issues that the banks and their clients are currently facing.