Assunção Cristas has published an article in Jornal de Negócios entitled ‘Sustainable Finance: The Engine of Sustainability?’ In this article, the VdA lawyer analyses the impact of current European legislation on the promotion of sustainability, highlighting the role it plays in building a new reality for companies, the financial sector and public policy.

Assunção Cristas emphasises that the European Green Deal, together with regulatory initiatives such as the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), ESRS (European Sustainability Reporting Standards) and CSDDD (Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive), are driving significant change.

In particular, she draws attention to the importance of the proposed ‘Omnibus Directive’ legislation, which introduces amendments to various pieces of legislation related to sustainability.

In light of these changes, Assunção Cristas raises a key question: ‘What is the real impact of this legislative change?’.

The article also emphasises the crucial role of the financial sector in the climate transition.

According to Assunção Cristas, it is essential that, at least with regarding the climate pillar, banks continue to play a relevant role. In this context, she states that European climate law ‘is supported by the convergence between scientific information and public opinion’.

• This article was published in the print edition of Jornal de Negócios on 7 May.