The EU taxonomy and the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) are central instruments in the EU Sustainable Finance Framework. Both aim at redirecting financial flows towards sustainable investments while both face critique in terms of coherence and usability.This report presents suggestions to leverage synergies between the SFDR and the Taxonomy by enhancing the usability of the Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) criteria in the EU Taxonomy and the Principle Adverse Impact (PAI) indicators under the SFDR. The report analyses the environmental objectives of climate change mitigation and sustainable use and protection of water for the economic sectors energy, manufacturing, construction and real estate, transport, and water supply. The report was completed in March 2025 and does not address current political and regulatory developments regarding the sustainable finance regulation.
This publication analyses the advantages and disadvantages of carbon credits compared to other financing instruments for protecting and restoring coastal ecosystems. Nine instruments are examined, including emission credits, biodiversity certificates, development cooperation, and blue bonds. Several aspects such as scalability, financial stability, carbon accounting, and project integrity are explored. Findings suggest that carbon credits offer scalability and long-term revenue potential but are hindered by high transaction costs, market volatility, and risks to environmental integrity, particularly when used for emission offsetting. The report targets professionals in climate change, conservation, and sustainable finance. Veröffentlicht in Climate Change | 05/2026.
The European Union has introduced the EU Taxonomy and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) as key regulatory frameworks to enhance transparency and direct capital flows towards environmentally responsible investments. This report explores the interconnections between these two frameworks, identifies implementation challenges, and analyzes synergies that companies can leverage to streamline their reporting obligations. A key focus is placed on materiality assessments, the integration of Taxonomy-related data into ESRS disclosures, and the potential for an EFRAG Implementation Guidance to facilitate alignment. Findings indicate that companies already collecting Taxonomy-related data can utilize it to meet ESRS requirements. The report was completed in March 2025 and does not address current political and regulatory developments regarding sustainable finance and corporate sustainability reporting.
Ein zentrales Ziel des Vorhabens besteht in der Weiterentwicklung der Deutschen Sustainable Finance Strategy, u.a. durch eine Konkretisierung der Vorschläge des Sustainable Finance Beirats, wobei die Entwicklung eines effektiven und konsistenten Instrumentenmix im Mittelpunkt steht. Darüber hinaus sollen Vorschläge werden, wie auf EU-Ebene die Kohärenz der diversen Sustainable Finance Instrumente (z.B: Taxonomie, Offenlegungsverordnung) verbessert und eine sinnvolle Verknüpfung mit der nationalen Sustainable Finance Strategie erfolgen kann.