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16/01, 09.00 CET

Webinar - Navigating Nature-related Regulations for Banks

Organisers: United Nations Environment Programme, Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

As nature-related regulatory initiatives are picking up globally, this webinar helps attendees make sense of these developments around the world, and how broader policy frameworks interact. This public webinar is open to all who are interested, with a focus on representatives of banks, central banks and supervisors, and government policymakers.

Central banks and supervisors are starting to acknowledge the necessity of tackling nature-related risks as part of their prudential mandate. This includes financial risks arising from ecosystem degradation (physical risk) as well as from economic activities that don’t align with protecting and restoring nature (transition risk). Already, at least 29 jurisdictions around the world—totaling more than EUR 75 trillion of banking assets—have started reflecting nature-related considerations in their prudential frameworks. However, prudential regulation does not act in isolation, as it is part of a wider system of rules—such as corporate disclosures, taxonomies, and due diligence obligations—that depend on and inform each other. This creates a complex interplay of linkages that interact locally within jurisdictions but also globally across jurisdictions.

You can find more information here and register via this link.

28/01,15.00CET    

Webinar - Unlocking CO₂ Storage Opportunities Outside the EU: Policy Challenges and Business Prospects

Organiser: The European Roundtable on Climate Change and Sustainable Transition (ERCST)

As the European Union intensifies its efforts to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, the pursuit of innovative solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions becomes ever more crucial. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) technologies are vital components of this strategy. Despite significant advancements within the EU and EEA in developing CO₂ storage capabilities, technical limitations and capacity constraints make it imperative to consider storage options beyond EU borders.

This event marks the official launch of a comprehensive paper that explores the regulatory challenges and business potential of storing EU-generated CO₂ in non-EU countries. The paper delves into existing EU and international regulations affecting cross-border CO₂ storage, highlighting the limitations of the Carbon Capture and Storage Directive and the constraints imposed by the London Protocol and the Helsinki Convention. The discussion will identify policy gaps within EU legislation impacting international CO₂ storage projects and propose potential solutions to overcome these hurdles. This includes advocating for the ratification of the 2009 amendment to the London Protocol and suggesting updates to the CCS Directive to explicitly address cross-border CO₂ storage.

A critical segment of the event will focus on the challenges of establishing a robust business case for CO₂ storage outside the EU. This encompasses the complexities of attributing value to CO₂ reductions achieved through storage in non-EU jurisdictions. The intricacies of accounting for and crediting CO₂ sequestration abroad present significant obstacles, such as regulatory uncertainties, potential conflicts with the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) accounting mechanisms, and ensuring alignment with EU regulatory standards. Addressing these challenges is essential for companies to unlock the economic potential of international CO₂ storage and to effectively contribute to the EU’s climate goals.

You can find more information here and register via this link.

29/01, 14.00 CET

Webinar - Beyond Batteries: Exploring Long-Duration Electricity Storage Solutions

Organisers: REKK and the British Embassy Budapest

As the energy transition accelerates and variable renewable energy sources like wind and solar power expand rapidly, long-duration energy storage (LDES) is emerging as a critical solution. Technologies such as liquid air storage, compressed air storage, flow batteries, and thermal energy storage can store excess renewable energy for extended periods, even across seasons, enhancing energy security and independence. The UK has been at the forefront of LDES innovation, with researchers, innovators, and technology providers already piloting these technologies.

The online workshop will delve into the most promising LDES technologies and their applications. UK experts will present innovative pilot projects showcasing three different technologies, highlighting technological and economic advancements and their potential for wider deployment. A panel discussion featuring UK and Hungarian stakeholders, including regulators, project owners, and potential end-users, will explore regulatory and market barriers that need to be addressed.

You can find more information and register via this link.