Sustainable Finance Forum launched: 50 organisations have already joined
The Green Finance Institute officially launched the Sustainable Finance Forum today at a conference on sustainability at Rockit Vilnius, inviting public and private sector representatives to join. The aim of this consultative body is to create a permanent platform for stakeholders to discuss the most relevant issues of sustainable (green) finance in Lithuania, to identify existing problems and to find solutions to them; 50 organisations have already joined the forum.
Minister of Finance, Gintarė Skaistė: ‘For Lithuania to successfully transition to a climate-neutral economy, we need to mobilise funds from both the public sector and private investors. The green finance ecosystem consistently developed by the Ministry of Finance and partners increases Lithuania’s attractiveness to those who choose to invest in promising green financial products’.
With the establishment of the Green Finance Institute last autumn, Lithuania is becoming the centre of green finance in the Baltic region, and the institute should become a reliable partner for all those who need information, advice and coordination in developing sustainable projects, the Minister said. This is an important step towards a greener, more sustainable and energy-independent Lithuania.
Audrius Šilgalis, Head of the Green Finance Institute: ‘The Sustainable Finance Forum will act as a moderator to help focus the debate on key issues that require the active involvement and effective cooperation of the private and public sectors – identifying challenges, finding solutions and implementing them. We want to start the discussion with as many participants as possible, because the changes in this area, which will affect everyone, are already being implemented rapidly, and the new requirements in the area of sustainability are not clear and understandable to everyone. This forum will be the place where we will find the best answers or solutions’.
INVEGA’s mission is to advise and support businesses and the public sector in the implementation of green finance projects and to help them understand what these projects really are, what their worth is and who needs them.
Šilgalis: ‘We aim to be the partner of choice when it comes to long-term investment plans, planning and implementation of green projects, sustainability initiatives or when someone is searching for answers. Both business and the public sector face the challenge of navigating the new regulations, and we hope to be the one-stop shop for all the information and guidance they need.’
Various ministries, business associations, universities and sustainability consultancies are already members of the forum. Working groups will soon be set up to discuss sustainability data and its collection, regulation, how to attract funding and the application of the ‘no significant harm’ principle.
Companies and organisations interested in joining the forum can do so by completing the registration form.
Photos: Rockit Vilnius organisers
