Sustainability Bridges

Hosted by Eurosif

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Jun 2026

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About the show

🎙️ 🌱 #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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38 recent

June 11, 202655 min

The next EU budget and its role in leveraging private investment

In this episode, we speak with Peter Sweatman, CEO of Climate Strategy & Partners, member of Spain’s SustainableFinance Council, former rapporteur for the G20 and EU Commission on energy efficiency, as well as author of more than 25 white papers on financing the energy and climate transition, most recently on the design of the European Competitiveness Fund.We delve into the main debates around the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028–2034, focusing on the elements that matter most for scaling up private finance for the transition. This includes the role of the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) and the InvestEU guarantee instrument.Peter highlights why investor engagement at this stageis essential, and shares his views on the structural barriers currently holding back private investment in Europe, the state of play in the MFF negotiations, and his recommendation for an “efficiency-first” approach to the EU budget. Music:"Pamgaea" by Kevin MacLeod (⁠https://incompetech.com⁠)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

June 9, 202651 min

SFDR 2.0: Investor reactions and priorities

In this episode, we speak with Mathilde Dufour, Head of Sustainability Research at Mirova, a French sustainability-focused asset manager, and Eric Pedersen, Head of Responsible Investments at Nordea Asset Management, a large player from the Nordic region. We discuss the ongoing review of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), and the potential practical impacts of some of the policy options currently discussed between EU institutions. The episode covers the proposed three-category structure and the criteria for each, such as positive contribution to sustainability objectives and minimum exclusions – and whether these would be adapted for all asset classes. We also explore the move towards a reduction of product-levelPrincipal Adverse Impact (PAI) disclosures, and the impacts of removing entity-level PAIs. Finally, we look ahead at essential technical-level measures for investors to implement the new regime. Music:"Pamgaea" by Kevin MacLeod (⁠https://incompetech.com⁠)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

May 19, 202647 min

Shareholder rights – what the upcoming review means for investor engagement

In this episode, we speak with Elke Winter-Mes, Team Leader for Corporate Governance/Shareholder Rights at the Unitdealing with Company Law and Corporate Governance of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Justice and Consumers (DG JUST).We delve into the Shareholder Rights Directive (SRD II) and its upcoming review to take stock of what is working well and where shortcomings remain. Our discussion focuses on how SRD II can remove the existing barriers to shareholderengagement, including on robust sustainability matters. Elke Winter-Mes shares insights on the European Commission’s current thinking and outlines the next steps for the review process. Music:"Pamgaea" by Kevin MacLeod (⁠https://incompetech.com⁠)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

April 14, 202629 min

The evolution of sustainable finance – a supervisor’s perspective

In this episode, we speak with Marco Zwick and Shaneera Rasqué from the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF), the financial supervisory authority in Luxembourg. Marco Zwick is the Director of the CSSF since 2018, and Shaneera Rasqué is Head of Regulatory Projects and Sustainable Finance.We discuss sustainable finance from a supervisor’s perspective – why it matters and how supervision can support investors and other financial market participants. We explore what the latest regulatory developments in the EU, especially the review of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) and the Omnibus I directive, mean for transparency, and dive deeper into ESMA’s Common Supervisory Action on sustainability risks and disclosures. Music:"Pamgaea"by Kevin MacLeod (⁠https://incompetech.com⁠)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

January 27, 202626 min

Resilience, competitiveness and growth: the business case for sustainable finance

In this episode, we speak with Nathalie Dogniez, Chair ofEurosif, and Matt Christensen, Global Head of Sustainable and Impact Investing at AllianzGI.Based on Eurosif’s report “EU Sustainable Finance: a competitive advantage for a resilient Europe,” we discuss how sustainable finance is strengthening economy in a challenging political environment. The conversation explores investor appetite, the role of EU rules such as the CSRD/ESRS, SFDR, and EU Taxonomy, and how tools like green bonds and sustainability standards are already improving transparency, risk management, and access to capital. We also highlight why regulatory stability is essential for helping businesses and investors play their role in the transition to a low-carbon economy. Read Eurosif's report here: https://www.eurosif.org/news/eu-sustainable-finance-a-competitive-advantage-for-a-resilient-europe/Music:"Pamgaea" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

December 18, 202537 min

SFDR 2.0: The Commission’s proposal and its implications for investors

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.Music:"Pamgaea" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

November 27, 202532 min

Nature in Europe: Where we stand – and what it means for the financial system

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.Music:"Pamgaea" by Kevin MacLeod (⁠https://incompetech.com⁠) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/⁠

September 26, 202540 min

Corporate sustainability reporting and the EU Omnibus: What’s at stake for investors and companies?

In this episode of Sustainability Bridges, we were joined by special guests Eric Pedersen, Head of Responsible Investments at Nordea Asset Management, and Elise Cachin, Head of Tech Policy and Regulatory Affairs at Nokia.During the discussion, Elise and Eric exchanged viewson the EU’s sustainable finance framework,the Omnibus initiative, and why competitiveness and sustainability are two sides of the same coin.Key insights from their discussion include:Simplification should not come between the needs of investors and companies for reliable and comparable data.Lowering both the scope for and the amount of reporting requirements risks reducing transparency. For the companies out of scope, this could exclude them from sustainable investment.Climate Transition Plans are vital: they create accountability, open new business opportunities, and help align supply chains towards net zero.The first wave of CSRD reporting has beenresource-intensive but has driven internalimprovements in sustainability management.Music:"Pamgaea" by Kevin MacLeod (⁠⁠https://incompetech.com⁠⁠) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/⁠⁠

August 6, 202533 min

A closer look at the first CSRD reports – and what we can learn from them for the Omnibus package

In this episode of Sustainability Bridges, we are joined by special guest Professor Thorsten Sellhorn, Director of the Institute for Accounting, Auditing and Analysis at the Munich School of Management, part of the Ludwig-Maximilian-University of Munich.During the episode, Professor Sellhorn walks us through the findings of his insightful research that analyses the firstsustainability reports that large companies published in line with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). He also details the information and data points available through the Sustainability Reporting Navigator, an AI-driven platform that allows anyone to search through the sustainability reports of over 500 large European companies, of which he is a co-founder. Professor Sellhorn also gives his expert opinion on the future of the EU Sustainable Finance regulatory framework and theEuropean Commission’s Omnibus simplification proposals, explaining the impact these proposals will have on the corporate reporting landscape and beyond, and how we can simplify without losing substance. Music:"Pamgaea" by Kevin MacLeod (⁠⁠https://incompetech.com⁠⁠) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/⁠⁠

February 20, 202514 min

Sustainability data: A competitive edge for the EU

For this episode of Sustainability Bridges, special guest Nathalie Dogniez, Chair of Eurosif and independent director with more than 30 years’ experience within the financial sector, joins Pierre Garrault, Eurosif’s Senior Policy Adviser, to discuss the perspective of the financial industry on recent and future developments in EU sustainable finance.As part of the episode, Nathalie gives her view on the European Commission’s proposed omnibus initiative, highlighting that while no regulation or standard is perfect on day one, adjustments and recalibrations should not come at the expense of the ambition of the EU sustainable finance framework. While the first year of reporting under new regulations is always challenging, applying these rules would ultimately facilitate reporting for European companies and provide investors with direct digital access to their financial and non-financial data, giving EU economic actors a significant competitive edge.Music:"Pamgaea" by Kevin MacLeod (⁠⁠https://incompetech.com⁠⁠) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/⁠⁠