Sustainability in Finance: How to make decarbonisation happen?

The Faculty of International Relations, Prague University of Economics and Business, with European Commission - Representation in Prague as partner organisation, has been organizing an annual conference dedicated to discussing the Czech Republic’s competitiveness and its future in the changing global environment since 2014.

This year´s topic is Sustainability in Finance: How to make decarbonisation happen?

Transformation of the economy towards ‘net zero’ is inevitable. This will include a number of sectors including energy, mobility and many others, necessitating a critical shift from traditional production and consumption. This crucial shift goes hand in hand with public and private financing. The volume required will be enormous and financial sector will play a crucial role in delivering the carbon neutral economy in the EU by 2050. The European Commission estimates that approximately €350 billion of additional investment is required in the energy system alone each year up to 2030 in order to meet the 55% emission reduction target. Across all of the sustainability objectives, the yearly investment gap is estimated at € 630 billion. 

Sustainable finance refers to investment that take the ‘ESG’ considerations into account when decision about investment is being made. Even though the EU has made a significant effort to offer the actors and stakeholders guidance that will bring the sustainability to everyday life, some concerns remain.

How can governments and policymakers assist in improving a market uptake of sustainability initiatives? 

Should state-owned or state-controlled enterprises be the first to adopt Taxonomy alignment and ‘transition finance’? 

Which sectors in Czechia still lack investments for a swift decarbonization and how can a government help? 

The working language of the conference is English.

Our annual event will take place on October 18, 2023, at Academic Club, VŠE.

More information

Program

15:00

Welcome and opening remarks

Josef Taušer, Dean, Faculty of International Relations, Prague University of Economics and Business

15:15-16:30

Sustainability in Finance: Bringing transformation to real life

Martin Špolc, Head of the Sustainable Finance, Directorate General for Financial Services, European Commission

Ota Melcher, Head of Economic Transformation Unit, Ministry of Finance, Czechia

Linda Zeilina, CEO and Founder, International Sustainable Finance Centre

Moderator: Daniel Houska, Vice-Dean for Study Affairs, FIR Prague University of Economics and Business, Member of EU Platform for Sustainable Finance

 16:30 – 17:00 Coffee Break

 17:00-18:15

Decarbonization: Public finance and private financing

What scenarios for Czechia?

Hélène Lanier, Managing Director of 2DII France

Richard Juřík, Deputy Director of the Department of Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development, Ministry of the Environment, Czechia

Raúl García-Rodríguez, Deloitte Sustainability and ESG advisory team Leader

Moderator: Jarolím Antal, Director, Centre for European Studies, Faculty of International Relations, Prague University of Economics and Business