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EU TAXONOMY: AN EU REGULATION TO
PROMOTE SUSTAINABILITY IN THE ENTIRE ECONOMY

To overcome the comprehensive threats of climate change and environmental degradation, Europe has adopted the Green Deal as a new strategy to promote growth while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting the environment. As part of the effort to make the EU's economy sustainable, a new regulatory framework has been set up to help the financial market adjust to these challenges, and to direct capital flows towards sustainable activities.

What is EU Taxonomy?

EU Taxonomy is the EU classification system for sustainable activities .

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It is a tool for determining the environmental performance of economic activities across a wide range of industries, which helps investors, companies, issuers and project promoters navigate toward a low-carbon, resilient and resource-efficient economy.

 

EU TAXONOMY IS YOUR GUIDE TO FINDING A CREDIBLE SCIENCE-BASED PATHWAY TO BECOME CLIMATE NEUTRAL

Environmental Objectives 

  1. Climate change mitigation

  2. Climate change adaptation 

  3. Protection of water and marine resources 

  4. Transition to a circular economy

  5. Pollution prevention and control

  6. Protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems

How it works 

EU Taxonomy sets requirements that economic activities must meet in order to be considered sustainable. It sets performance thresholds for economic activities that:

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  1. Can make a substantial contribution to at least one of the six environmental objectives

  2. Do no significant harm (DNSH) to any of the other environmental objectives

  3. Comply with minimum safeguards.

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Why use EU Taxonomy? 

EU Taxonomy provides clarity and transparency on environmental sustainability criteria, thereby enabling investors, financial institutions, and companies to use informed decision-making to foster investments in environmentally sustainable activities and to encourage capital flows towards sustainable investments.

STAKEHOLDER RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Market Participants 

Financial market participants offering financial products in the EU have to provide for each relevant product, information on:

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  1. How and to what extent they have used EU Taxonomy for determining the sustainability of underlying investments.

  2. The proportion of underlying investments that are taxonomy-eligible and aligned, expressed as a percentage of the total investment, fund or portfolio.

  3. Details on the respective proportions of enabling or transitional activities.

Non-Financial Companies 

Non-financial companies that are already required to provide a non-financial statement under the Non-Financial Reporting Directive are now also required to provide a description of how and to what extent their activities are taxonomy-eligible and aligned, including:

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  1. The proportion of turnover eligible and aligned with the EU Taxonomy. 

  2. Whether or not Capex, and if relevant, Opex, is eligibile and aligned with Taxonomy.

 

IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE 

2022

Eligibility reporting for large undertakings

For the financial year 2021, large public-interest entities with more than 500 employees became subject to reporting requirements pursuant to Article 8 of the Taxonomy Regulation on the eligibility of their economic activities.

2023

Alignment reporting for large undertakings

For the financial year 2022, large non-
financial undertakings will need to report the activities that are considered as aligned pursuant to the Taxonomy Regulation.

Eligibility reporting for financial institutions

Financial entities need to report on Taxonomy-eligible activities for the financial year 2022.

2024

Alignment reporting for large financial institutions

Large financial institutions
should disclose Taxonomy-eligible and aligned activities in 2024 for activities related to climate
objectives for the financial year 2023.

2025

Sustainability reports for all companies under NFRD

Sustainabilty reports become obligatory for all large* companies covered under the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD)

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*above 250 employees, or annual turnover of more than 50 MEUR, or annual balance sheet larger than 43 MEUR

3rd country coverage

Financial institutions may cover alignments for third country impacts.

2026/2027

Sustainabilty reports for listed SME and small financial institutions

Disclosure of Taxonomy alignment and eligibility becomes obligatory for publicly listed small and medium enterprises as well as small financial institutions for the financial year 2026.

Additional obligations for credit institutions

Credit institutions will need to report on the Taxonomy alignment of
their trading book, as well as fees and commissions for non-banking activities.

We are your partner in mastering EU Taxonomy/SFDR matter.

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Our platform is designed according to your needs and connects you with EU Taxonomy trained technical and regulation experts for individual support.

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Get to know more about our services or get in touch with us for further information. 

"Taking longer-term sustainability interests into account makes economic sense and does not necessarily lead to lower returns for investors."

Klemens Marx, CEO VIRIDAD

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