Daithí is joined by Louise O'Mahony, head of Sustainable Banking at Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI). Louise gives fascinating insights into all things sustainable finance, including the huge increase in green lending in recent years and why private finance is so essential to meeting our emissions targets; an overview of environmental regulations pertaining to the finance sector and why the European Central bank is so concerned about Climate Change, [food harvest and flooding]; and some policies and tools that would help banks to be more ambitious with their sustainability-linked lending. After the interview, Daithí gives five top tips for greening your own finances. Music in this episode is the stunning Mountain Song, by Anna Mieke.

Links

1. Banking and Payments Federation Ireland - https://bpfi.ie                                              

2. European Commission on Sustainable Finance - https://finance.ec.europa.eu/sustainable-finance/overview-sustainable-finance_en             

3. SEAI Grants - https://www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants/                                             

4. ECB has climate risks as second-highest priority: https://www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu/banking/priorities/html/ssm.supervisory_priorities202312~a15d5d36ab.en.html                                        

5. EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/capital-markets-union-and-financial-markets/company-reporting-and-auditing/company-reporting/corporate-sustainability-reporting_en                                       

 6. ECB Climate and Environment Risk Guide: https://www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2020/html/ssm.pr201127~5642b6e68d.en.html      

7. Montreal agreement - Taskforce on nature–related financial disclosures: https://tnfd.global/             

8. Christine Lagarde ECB president - 70% of banks’ loan portfolios is to high-emitting sectors: https://greencentralbanking.com/2024/01/29/eurozone-banks-face-serious-transition-risks-ecb/              

9. Bank Of England research on connection between energy performance and reduced risk of mortgage default: https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/-/media/boe/files/working-paper/2023/the-greening-of-lending-mortgage-pricing-of-energy-transition-risk.pdf