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Green money for green investments

Cordial invitation to the online event on "Green loans and their importance for banks and companies" on Monday, 04 April 2022 from 13.00 - 14.30.

The European Union has set itself ambitious climate goals with the signing of the Paris Climate Agreement and the Green Deal. Achieving these goals requires constructive interaction between the real economy and the financial sector in order to mobilise sufficient capital for sustainable activities. Banks and credit institutions face major challenges, as they play a key role in the transformation of the economy.

For the necessary financing of sustainable and climate-friendly activities, there is a range of financial instruments available, such as green loans. A green loan is a form of financing that allows borrowers to use the proceeds exclusively to finance projects that make a significant contribution to an environmental goal. A green loan is thus similar to a green bond in that it raises capital for green projects. Green loans are often based on the so-called Green Loan Principles of the International Capital Market Association (ICMA). These state that all proceeds should be used exclusively for green activities.

The Austrian Ecolabel for sustainable financial products has been the standard for sustainable financial products in Austria since 2004 in order to prevent greenwashing. It provides orientation for (sustainable) investors. Meanwhile, more than 200 financial products have been certified with the Ecolabel. Since 2020, green bonds and sustainable current accounts can also be awarded the Ecolabel; this option is not (yet) available for green loans.

What are the opportunities and possibilities of a green loan for both a credit institution and the company seeking credit? What challenges do lenders or borrowers face in order to label the loan as "green"? What is the role of ESG ratings and second party opinion (SPO) in the process? When is a loan considered "green" and what could the Austrian Ecolabel contribute to market development or quality assurance in the future?

We would like to discuss these and other questions with you in the webinar on 4. 4. 2022,13.00, which ÖGUT is conducting on behalf of the Ministry of Climate Action and in cooperation with VKI / Austrian Ecolabel.


Programme

12:30 Introduction to the webinar

13:00 Welcome and introduction BMK and ÖGUT

13:10 Green Loans - a market overview Katharina Muner-Sammer, ÖGUT

13:20 UZ49 - The orientation guide for sustainable financial products Raphael Fink, Team Ecolabel VKI

13:30 Green Loans as a Credit Product of Banks Reinhard Friesenbichler, Managing Director Mag. Reinhard Friesenbichler Unternehmensberatung

13:45 Green Loans in Practice - The Bank's View Andreas Hauer, Head of Sustainable Finance Corporates, Erste Group Bank AG

14:00 Green credit in practice - company's point of view Company still in enquiry

14:15 Questions and discussion of the participantsPlanned end of the event: 14.30 hrs.

Moderation: Susanne Hasenhüttl, ÖGUT


The webinar will be conducted with the conference tool ZOOM.


Please register here by 1 April.