EU Taxonomy, ESG and sustainability

in the context of sustainable finance, investment and EU funds in 2021–2027

Course for territorial self-governments and state sector

What are ESG investments? What are the rules of environmentally sustainable investments according to the EU Taxonomy? How to perform climate, environmental and social proofing of investments? What is the relationship between ESG investments and the EU funds rules in 2021–2027 on one hand and sustainable finance of banks and other financial institutions on other hand? How do ESG investments relate to non-financial reporting of corporations and financial institutions? How do ESG topics relate to investment planning and property insurance? How to integrate ESG into governance, investment project cycle management and public procurement in your city, town or state institution? 

Our six-day course covering 42 hours of training accredited with the Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic (for public servants of territorial self-governments) will provide you not only with rounded key domain knowledge, but also with an opportunity to apply it to real cases studies during interactive workshops.

 

Modules

Module 1: ESG and EU Taxonomy – fundamentals, significance, application, case studies and outlook

Module 1 is dedicated to introducing ESG, the EU Taxonomy, as well as the main principles related to them (DNSH and EE1st), including their application within the EU funds 2021–2027. Two instances of technical screening criteria according to the EU Taxonomy for buildings together with the EU ‘Strategy for financing the transition to a sustainable economy’ will be presented. Two case studies (projects) on EU Taxonomy classification will be solved in two smaller groups during the practical part of the module (workshop).

Module 1 covers the following topics:

  • New investment type – ESG investments and projects,

  • EU Taxonomy fundamentals and do not significant harm (DNSH) principle,

  • Energy efficiency first (EE1st) principle,

  • Application of EU Taxonomy on EU-funded projects in 2021–2027,

  • EU Strategy for Financing the Transition to a Sustainable Economy.

 

Module 2: Fundamentals of sustainability rules on investment projects of EU funds in 2021–2027

Module 2 is devoted to the basics regarding sustainability rules for EU-funded investment projects according to two key methodologies (technical guidelines) of the EC, specifically for climate and sustainability verification for InvestEU Fund purposes. Two case studies (projects) on preliminary climate proofing will be solved in two smaller groups during the practical part of the module (workshop).

Module 2 covers the following topics:

  • Fundamentals of sustainability proofing,

  • Climate dimension of sustainability,

  • Environmental and social dimensions of sustainability,

  • Horizontal rules and economic appraisal of operations,

  • Corporate finance for general purposes and information duties.

Module 3: Climate (mitigation and adaptation) sustainability proofing of investment projects

Module 3 is dedicated to the introduction of more detailed rules for climate proofing of investment projects of EU funds according to the methodology (technical guidelines) of the EC for climate proofing of infrastructure. Two case studies (projects) on climate proofing will be solved in two smaller groups during the practical part of the module (workshop).

Module 3 covers the following topics:

  • Climate proofing fundamentals,

  • Proofing for climate change mitigation,

  • Proofing for climate change adaptation,

  • Climate-proofing documentation and verification,

  • Climate proofing and project cycle management implications.

Module 4: Environmental and social sustainability proofing of investment projects

Module 4 will be devoted to the presentation of more detailed rules for the environmental and social proofing of investment projects of EU funds according to the methodology (technical guidelines) of the EC for the sustainability proofing for the purposes of the InvestEU Fund. Two case studies (projects) on environmental proofing will be solved in two smaller groups during the practical part of the module (workshop).

  • Module 4 covers the following topics:
  • Environmental and social proofing fundamentals,

  • Phase 1: Screening,

  • Phase 2: Detailed assessment,

  • Positive agendas,

  • Reporting and monitoring.

Module 5: Sustainability & ESG governance, standards and quality management systems

Module 5 deals with emerging methodologies and good practices in the field of governance, standards, and quality management systems in connection to ESG. It will be mainly focused on the TCFD, GHG Protocol, SBTi, PAS 2080, ISO 14091, PCRAM, and SECAP methodologies and its application worldwide. Furthermore, the EC's methodology for applying the "energy efficiency first" (EE1st) principle will be presented in detail, including the proposal for a directive on the due diligence of businesses in sustainability matters. Two case studies (projects) on social proofing will be solved in two smaller groups during the practical part of the module (workshop).

Module 5 covers the following topics:

  • TCFD, its recommendations and key publications,

  • GHG Protocol, Science Based Targets (SBTi), Sustainable Energy and Climate. Action Plan (SECAP), PCRAM,

  • EE1st Guidance, carbon management on infrastructure and adaptation to climate change,

  • Corporate governance of climate change.

Module 6: Project cycle management and procurement versus sustainability and ESG

Module 6 will focus on the integration of ESG into the project cycle of investment projects, including tools that can be used for sustainability screening. Subsequently, these rules will be discussed in terms of preparation and conduct of public procurement procedures, including the management of contractual relations during the implementation of public contracts. Two case studies (projects) on the application of sustainability to public procurement procedures and contracts’ content will be solved in two smaller groups during the practical part of the module (workshop).

Module 6 covers the following topics:

  • Project cycle management versus sustainability proofing,

  • Sustainability proofing checklists (climate, environmental and social),

  • Environmentally and socially responsible procurement,

  • Ethical procurement, Know Your Customer and ISO 20400:2017,

  • Contracts & Green Public Procurement versus sustainability & ESG.

Course details

This six-day cycle of seminars & workshops contains:

  • 2 x 70-minute sessions (morning part),

  • 2 x 70-minute discussion and Q&A session,

  • 1 x 120-minute workshops (afternoon part) on the application of selected learning content.

The morning part will be led by at least one lecturer and the afternoon workshops by at least two lecturers. All participants will receive an electronic PDF version of all PowerPoint presentations and a list of supporting documents/sources for each traning day.

The training runs in a hybrid format – you can participate face-to-face or online. The choice is yours for every module. The duration is specified in each of the modules. They are delivered in the Czech language; some of the supporting materials may only be available in English.
 

The main (primary) target group of the course are servants from territorial and public enterprises (owned by the State or territorial self-governments) working mainly in the following areas:

  • Investment and asset management,
  • Project preparation and implementation (including EU funds),
  • Controlling in public sector,
  • Financing, 
  • Strategy development and strategy.
  •  

There are no formal entry-level requirements.

 

After completing each module, each participant from a cohort of servants of terrritorial self-governments will receive a certificate (diploma) of its completion to a relevant scope in line with the accreditation of the program with the Ministry of Interior. Other participants will receive a certificate (diploma) of its completion without a reference to the accrediation with the Ministry of Interior.

If you have not completed the ESG & non-financial reporting programme yet, you can apply HERE.
 

Tutors

Petr Dovolil

Petr Dovolil is a legal, regulatory, institutional, public procurement, and urban resilience expert with more than 22 years of consulting experience focusing on the EU and Czech environmental law (e.g. water, wastewater), utilities (in particular water and wastewater, waste, urban transport), public private partnerships (PPPs), public procurement (public contracts and concessions), State Aid, public service contracts, grants and finance, cohesion policy, rural development, infrastructure asset management, governance, climate resilience, urban sustainability and ESG (especially the EU Taxonomy).

Jan Pejter

Jan Pejter is an energy engineer, a member of the Association of Energy Engineers of the Czech Republic, and the Certified Measurement and Verification Professional (CMVP®) of the EVO® organization. He has more than 20 years of experience in consulting on energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, energy policy and legislation, Energy Performance Contracting, feasibility studies, evaluation, and financing of energy projects. Jan has versatile experience with energy savings and energy management in industry and the building sector. He has worked on projects in all major industrial sectors and also for international financial institutions, e.g. EIB, EBRD, and UNDP as well as state administration of the Czech Republic or banking institutions in Central and Eastern Europe.

Strahinja Mladenović

Strahinja Mladenović works as an ESG manager at PwC Czech Republic in the field of environmental engineering with a focus on renewable energy sources and projects in the public sector. Before joining PwC, he led dozens of international environmental projects. Strahinja is a certified Environmental Site Assessor and has performed environmental due diligence in more than 40 locations both in the Czech Republic and abroad. He has more than 8 years of experience in the field of environmental protection, including projects where he worked not only with the municipal and public sector, but also with development agencies (UNDP, ČRA) and financial institutions (EBRD, EIB). Besides, he was the sector leader for two Green City Action Plan projects in Tbilisi and Lviv and managed several projects supported by the ČRA (Czech Development Agency) and the United Nations Development Program.

Lucie Martincová

Lucie Martincová works as a senior ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) consultant at the PwC Czech Republic with a focus on decarbonization and hydrogen strategy, sustainable just transformation to a low-carbon economy, communities, diversity and inclusion, and access to sustainable financing. Lucie is actively involved in preparing educational materials on ESG topics and is one of the main coordinators of PwC ESG Talks and the Czech ESG Survey. At the same time, she gives lectures on various e.g. on social screening of investment projects or creating sustainable innovation through design. She holds the CFA Certificate in ESG Investing and is actively spreading awareness about ESG in the CEE region.

Ondřej Ptáček

Ondřej Ptáček has more than 14 years of professional experience in matters of management, public administration, the financial sector and access to finance, system integration, IS management, public support, notification, and management of public support programs and financial instruments. In the past, he worked at the Ministry of Industry and Trade as an expert on public support in the department of investment incentives and structural funds. He also worked as a director in the Czech development bank ČMZRB, where he was responsible for the ownership and development of two banking systems (CRM and DMS) and in the European Investment Fund. He now works as a director and manager of 2 teams – ESG and the Public Sector at the PwC Czech Republic.

Kateřina Mandulová

Kateřina Mandulová is a Senior Associate at PwC Legal with more than 18 years of experience from international law firms and inhouse positions at international corporations (Tesco Stores, energy incumbent CEZ). Katerina graduated from the Law faculty of Charles University in 2003 and Paris II, Panthéon-Assas, Paris, and obtained LL.M. at the College of Europe in Bruges. For most of her legal practice she specializes on ESG and sustainability, competition and regulatory compliance. She advises in all areas of public regulation, corporate governance, procurement, state aid and EU funding.

Radka Nedvědová

Radka is a manager and PwC Academy tutor with more than 20 years of experience across various fields and industries. She led and participated in audit and consulting projects and she leverages her experience and expertise to support the professional and personal development of PwC's clients and employees. As a founding member of PwC's ESG team, Radka specialises in non-financial reporting and related regulations and co-operates on ESG strategy projects and stakeholder dialogues.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Česká republika, s.r.o is an accredited educational instititution accredited pursuant to Act No. 312/2002 Coll., on civil servants of territorial self-governing units and on the amendment of certain laws, as subsequently amended – accreditation No. AK/I-18/2022.

The following accreditation categories have been assigned to the educational programme: 

  • AK/PV-1057/2022 – continuous education for civil servants
  • AK/VE-505/2022 – continuous education for senior civil servants

Certificates of completion of the programme according to the abovementioned law will be handed over only to the civil servants of territorial self-governing units who complete the programme in a face-to-face format.

Structure of the course

Date Course Language Place Price excluding VAT Price including VAT  
On demand EU Taxonomy, ESG and sustainability in the context of sustainable finance, investment and EU funds in 2021–2027
Course for territorial self-governments and state sector
CZE PwC & Online 29,000 CZK* 35,090 CZK* Contact us

* SMO ČR members are entitled to a discount of 10 %.

Structure of programme

Module 1 ESG and EU Taxonomy – fundamentals, significance, application, case studies and outlook
Fundamentals of sustainability rules on investment projects of EU funds in 2021–2027
Module 2 Climate (mitigation and adaptation) sustainability proofing of investment projects
Environmental and social sustainability proofing of investment projects
Module 3 Sustainability & ESG governance, standards and quality management systems
Project cycle management and procurement versus sustainability and ESG

This course is for territorial self-governments and state sector.
Course for private sector or public enterprises can be found HERE.

 

Contacts

Anna Tubert

Anna Tubert

Junior Business Developer, PwC Academy, PwC Czech Republic

Tel: +420 731 431 337

Michal Vychodil

Michal Vychodil

Head of PwC Academy, PwC Czech Republic

Tel: +420 602 589 530

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