<> Those screening criteria should take into account the fact that the transport sector, including international shipping, contributes close to 26 % of total greenhouse gas emissions in the Union. Editors reserve the right to ask for the checklist and to reject submissions that do not adhere to these guidelines, to reject submissions based on ethical or animal welfare concerns or if the procedure described does not appear to be justified by the value of the work presented. Reporting Directive will fully take into account these indicators, and they will build on the screening criteria and do-no-significant-harm thresholds of the EU Taxonomy. All Figures, Schemes and Tables should have a short explanatory title and caption. the potential adverse impact of climate change on the environment within which the economic activity takes place. The mere fact that a company does not have Taxonomy-aligned activities does not mean that conclusions can be drawn regarding the companys environmental performance or its ability to access finance. (4)Decision No 1386/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 2013 on a General Union Environment Action Programme to 2020 Living well, within the limits of our planet (OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 171). 3. Ultimately (56)Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 of the European Parliament and the Council of 25 November 2009 on the EU Ecolabel (OJ L 27, 30.1.2010, p. 1). The information to be disclosed in accordance with Articles 6(3) and 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 shall be accompanied by the following statement: The do no significant harm principle applies only to those investments underlying the financial product that take into account the EU criteria for environmentally sustainable economic activities. EU TAXONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE ACTIVITIES In the context of this Regulation, greenwashing refers to the practice of gaining an unfair competitive advantage by marketing a financial product as environmentally friendly, when in fact basic environmental standards have not been met. They are the building blocks to increase transparency and provide tools for investors to identify sustainable investment opportunities. In the case of regular submissions, in-house assistant editors will invite experts, including recommendations by an academic editor. Three Rs. 1. (10)Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1). In particular, these companies shall disclose the proportion of their turnover, capital expenditure and operating expenditures that are derived or associated with economic activities that qualify as environmentally sustainable. Our in-house editors will investigate any allegations of publication misconduct and may contact the authors' institutions or funders if necessary. After these checks, the Managing Editor will consult the journals Editor-in-Chief or Associate Editors to determine whether the manuscript fits the scope of the journal and whether it is scientifically sound. By way of derogation from paragraph 2 of this Article: Articles 4(6) and (7), 8(3), 9(5), 10(2), 11(4) and 13(2) shall apply from 29 December 2019; Articles 2a, 8(4), 9(6) and 11(5) shall apply from 12 July 2020; in respect of the environmental objectives referred to in points (a) and (b) of Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, from 1 January 2022; and. The Taxonomy regulation establishes the creation of a multistakeholder Platform on Sustainable Finance to advise the Commission on the development, analysis and review of technical screening criteria. , as a top up to the suitability assessment. The ESAs shall, through the Joint Committee, develop draft regulatory technical standards to specify the details of the content and presentation of the information referred to in points (c) and (d) of paragraph 1. This complementary Delegated Act will cover nuclear energysubject to and consistent with the results of the specific review process underway in accordance with the EU Taxonomy Regulation. In its communication of 8 March 2018, the Commission published its action plan on financing sustainable growth, launching an ambitious and comprehensive strategy on sustainable finance. Further guidance on activities that contribute to other sustainability objectives, including social objectives, might be developed at a later stage. A template permission form is available to download. The editors of this journal enforce a rigorous peer-review process together with strict ethical policies and standards to ensure to add high quality scientific works to the field of scholarly publication. They are based on the NACE codes, which is the EU classification of economic activities. For those that are not pivoting towards sustainable activities, the Taxonomy presents the risk of highlighting areas where organisations lag peers and which could draw scrutiny from investors, NGOs, and civil society. EUR-Lex - 32021R2139 - EN - EUR-Lex - Europa General background and objective . Where financial market participants do not take the criteria for environmentally sustainable investments into account, they should provide a statement to that end. (9)Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC (OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 22). Peer review comments are confidential and will only be disclosed with the express agreement of the reviewer. When developing the draft regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph, the ESAs shall take into account the various types of financial products, their characteristics and the differences between them, as well as the objective that disclosures are to be accurate, fair, clear, not misleading, simple and concise and, where necessary to achieve that objective, shall develop draft amendments to the regulatory technical standards referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article. Individual journal guidelines can be found at the journal Instructions for Authors page. According to The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, Authors should avoid entering into agreements with study sponsors, both for-profit and non-profit, that interfere with authors access to all of the studys data or that interfere with their ability to analyze and interpret the data and to prepare and publish manuscripts independently when and where they choose.. Vouchers may be requested for review by future investigators to verify the identity of the material used in the study (especially if taxonomic rearrangements occur in the future). Dataset title; Data repository or archive; Version (if any); Persistent identifier (e.g., DOI). by 2021 the EU technical screening Step 3 Classify activity by checking for substantial contribution to one of the 6 objectives Step 4 We use cookies on our website to ensure you get the best experience. In particular, a widespread concern is that some activities, which contribute to the green transition of the real economy, are not eligible to be included in the Taxonomy. The Platform welcomed stakeholder feedback through a call for feedback, which ran from 3August to 28September2021. The feedback also revealed several concerns, including: -The implications of an activity qualifying as environmentally sustainable or not: Some stakeholders were concerned that an activity not qualifying as green under the EU Taxonomy Climate Delegated Act risks being perceived as unsustainable, with possible consequences in terms of access to finance for those activities. To submit your manuscript, register and log in to the submission website. The Managing Editor will forward the manuscript and related information (including the identities of the referees) to a designated Editorial Board Member. In the future, the original purpose of the EU Taxonomy should be reiterated and the implications should be carefully assessed in terms of suitability, proportionality and compliance costs, before its inclusion in other policies. Where no technical screening criteria exist yet, companies are encouraged to use their own metrics and measurements and explain how these relate to the Taxonomy. (Section 1), -The level of ambition and usability of criteria: While many stakeholders welcomed the level of ambition of the criteria or even called for higher ambition, other stakeholders were concerned that the ambition of the criteria was too high, and suggested improvements in the usability of criteria. In order to ensure the efficient and sustainable organisation of the work and meeting practices of both the Platform and the Member State Expert Group on Sustainable Finance, and in order to enable broad participation and efficient interaction within the groups, their subgroups, the Commission and stakeholders, the increased use of digital, including virtual, technologies should be considered, where appropriate. 19 0 obj The level of ambition and usability of criteria: While many stakeholders welcomed the level of ambition of the criteria or even called for higher ambition, other stakeholders were concerned that. Substantial contribution to pollution prevention and control. In that context, the technical screening criteria should, to the extent feasible, be based on the sustainability indicators referred to in Regulation (EU) 2019/2088. Children does not publish pilot studies or studies with inadequate statistical power. Where scientific evaluation does not allow for a risk to be determined with sufficient certainty, the precautionary principle should apply in accordance with Article 191 TFEU. Children now accepts free format submission: A cover letter must be included with each manuscript submission. The Joint Research Centre report is divided into two parts: the first part focuses on the study of relevant environmental indicators on the do no significant harm criteria on the entire nuclear life cycle and the second part focuses on the specific question related to waste that had been highlighted by the TEG. 26 0 obj Looking forward, the EU Taxonomy Compass will be updated to include future delegated acts specifying technical screening criteria for additional economic activities substantially contributing to the climate objectives and the other environmental objectives of the Taxonomy Regulation. EU taxonomy An economic activity shall qualify as contributing substantially to the sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources where that activity either contributes substantially to achieving the good status of bodies of water, including bodies of surface water and groundwater or to preventing the deterioration of bodies of water that already have good status, or contributes substantially to achieving the good environmental status of marine waters or to preventing the deterioration of marine waters that are already in good environmental status, by: protecting the environment from the adverse effects of urban and industrial waste water discharges, including from contaminants of emerging concern such as pharmaceuticals and microplastics, for example by ensuring the adequate collection, treatment and discharge of urban and industrial waste waters; protecting human health from the adverse impact of any contamination of water intended for human consumption by ensuring that it is free from any micro-organisms, parasites and substances that constitute a potential danger to human health as well as increasing peoples access to clean drinking water; improving water management and efficiency, including by protecting and enhancing the status of aquatic ecosystems, by promoting the sustainable use of water through the long-term protection of available water resources, inter alia, through measures such as water reuse, by ensuring the progressive reduction of pollutant emissions into surface water and groundwater, by contributing to mitigating the effects of floods and droughts, or through any other activity that protects or improves the qualitative and quantitative status of water bodies; ensuring the sustainable use of marine ecosystem services or contributing to the good environmental status of marine waters, including by protecting, preserving or restoring the marine environment and by preventing or reducing inputs in the marine environment; or. If evidence of misconduct is found, appropriate action will be taken to correct or retract the publication. Information disclosed by companies would therefore be available for analysts in banks, insurance companies, asset management companies or credit rating agencies, for end investors and for non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders that wish to better hold companies to account for their social and environmental impacts. The report of the High-Level Expert Group published on 31 January 2018 calls for the creation of a technically robust classification system at Union level to establish clarity on which activities qualify as green or sustainable, starting with climate change mitigation. Citations and References in Supplementary files are permitted provided that they also appear in the reference list of the main text. All experimental samples and controls used for one comparative analysis should be run on the same blot/gel image. . While it would be disproportionately burdensome to extend such a requirement to smaller companies, smaller companies may voluntarily decide to publish such information. The ESAs shall, through the Joint Committee, develop draft regulatory technical standards to specify the details of the content and presentation of the information referred to in points (a) and (b) of paragraph 1.; 5. In that context, before amending or replacing a delegated act, the Commission shall assess the implementation of those criteria taking into account the outcome of their application by financial market participants and their impact on capital markets, including on the channelling of investment into environmentally sustainable economic activities. While the SFDR puts pressure on investors, the CSRD puts it on reporting companies. permission is required to reuse all or part of the article published by MDPI, including figures and tables. (53)Regulation (EU) No 1094/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 establishing a European Supervisory Authority (European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority), amending Decision No 716/2009/EC and repealing Commission Decision 2009/79/EC (OJ L 331, 15.12.2010, p. 48). The Commission shall adopt a delegated act in accordance with Article 23 to: supplement paragraph 1 of this Article by establishing technical screening criteria for determining the conditions under which a specific economic activity qualifies as contributing substantially to sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources; and. technical screening criteria for determining whether an economic activity can be considered as contributing substantially to environmental objectives. , as a top up to the suitability assessment. The proposed Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive would be the foundation of a consistent flow of sustainability information through the financial value chain and for other stakeholders. It does not define or categorize any activities as improving the current levels of environmental performance but not reaching the level of substantial contribution. Statements on animal welfare should confirm that the study complied with all relevant legislation. Nothing in this feedback process commits the Commission nor does it preclude any policy outcomes. Stakeholder Capitalism in the Time of COVID, 70 climate change mitigation and 68 climate, of an organisation lies within in the value, https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en, https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/banking-and-finance/sustainable-finance/eu-taxonomy-sustainable-activities_en, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32019R2088, https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/company-reporting-and-auditing/company-reporting/corporate-sustainability-reporting_en, https://www.accountancyeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/Unpuzzling-the-Sustainability-Reporting-Alphabet-Soup.pdf, https://susproc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/product-bureau/product-groups/432/documents, https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/banking-and-finance/sustainable-finance/european-green-bond-standard_en, Contribute substantially to one or more of the six environmental objectives, and comply with the relevant technical screening criteria, Do no significant harm (DNSH) to any other environmental objective. endobj Achieving the SDGs in the Union requires the channelling of capital flows towards sustainable investments. The size should be of high quality in order to reproduce well. THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. The EU Taxonomy is a robust, science-based transparency tool for companies and investors. Prior to adopting the delegated act referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article, the Commission shall consult the Platform referred to in Article 20 regarding the technical screening criteria referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article. Authors should not cite advertisements or advertorial material. For organisations with activities which are not currently covered by the Taxonomy, demonstrating the alignment of activities with the Taxonomy definition criteria will also prove an effective way to appeal to ESG focused investors. Mandatory reporting under the Taxonomy Regulation will apply from January 2022 for the climate change mitigation and adaptation objectives, and from January 2023 for the other four objectives, as agreed by the European Parliament and the Council in the EU Taxonomy Regulation. Expanded and high-quality conference papers can be considered as articles if they fulfill the following requirements: (1) the paper should be expanded to the size of a research article; (2) the conference paper should be cited and noted on the first page of the paper; (3) if the authors do not hold the copyright of the published conference paper, authors should seek the appropriate permission from the copyright holder; (4) authors are asked to disclose that it is conference paper in their cover letter and include a statement on what has been changed compared to the original conference paper. technical screening criteria implementing each of the Taxonomy Regulations environmental objectives, the EUs Sustainable Finance Technical Expert Group (TEG) issued a report in March 20203 setting out detailed proposals for the first tranche of delegated legislation covering the Taxonomy Regulations first Commission sustainable finance website You may identify appropriate Editorial Board members of the journal as potential reviewers. Author D is the inventor of patent X. endstream endobj startxref All generated mass spectrometry raw data must be deposited in the appropriate public database such as ProteomeXchange, PRIDE or jPOST. To give sufficient time to the relevant actors to familiarise themselves with the criteria for qualification as environmentally sustainable economic activities set out in this Regulation and to prepare for their application, the obligations set out in this Regulation should become applicable, for each environmental objective, 12 months after the relevant technical screening criteria have been established. Public-sector experts should include representatives of the European Environmental Agency, the ESAs, the European Investment Bank and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. Microsofts Activision Blizzard deal is key to the companys mobile gaming efforts. The fundamental conventions of the ILO define human and labour rights that undertakings should respect. If available, a high standard of veterinary care must be provided. It can, for example, increase the durability, reparability, upgradability and reusability of products, or can reduce the use of resources through the design and choice of materials, facilitating repurposing, disassembly and deconstruction in the buildings and construction sector, in particular to reduce the use of building materials and promote the reuse of building materials. However, while the EU Taxonomy can guide market participants in their investment decisions, naturally it does not prohibit investment in any activity. The Scientific Basis for Regulation of Animal Care and Use. The EU Taxonomy is designed for the specific purpose of providing a classification system and improving transparency. For companies, this transition means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, become resilient and reduce environmental harm over time. All corporates will need to ensure they have a data framework that not only tracks meaningful KPIs for their own sustainability strategy, but now also looks at economic activities, corresponding financial information, and alignment to the environmental (and later, social) Taxonomy. Through this Regulation, the European Parliament and the Council mandated the European Commission to provide, in delegated acts. in sectors which are responsible for almost 80% of direct greenhouse gas emissions in Europe, are already covered, with more activities to be added in the future. Making available financial products which pursue environmentally sustainable objectives is an effective way of channelling private investments into sustainable activities. { The draft regulatory technical standards shall take into account the respective dates of application set out in points (a) and (b) of Article 27(2) of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 in respect of the environmental objectives set out in Article 9 of that Regulation. The Taxonomy is a list of economic activities within different sectors with technical screening criteria to substantially contribute and not to significantly harm environmental objectives. Decision No 1386/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council(4) calls for an increase in private sector funding for environmental and climate-related expenditure, in particular by putting in place incentives and methodologies that stimulate companies to measure the environmental costs of their business and profits derived from using environmental services. 2022 Global and Regional Trends in Corporate Governance <> Any reduction in the content of hazardous substances in materials and products throughout the life cycle, including by replacing them with safer alternatives, should, as a minimum, be in accordance with Union law. Based on careful examination of the feedback received, modifications have been made, compared to the draft delegated act published for public feedback, without undermining the level of ambition of the European Green Deal objectives. . Manuscripts will not be published until the accession number is provided. 11 Currently, only 13 sectors are covered with significant industries missing, including agriculture. the ambition of the criteria was too high, and suggested improvements in the usability of criteria. increases the durability, reparability, upgradability or reusability of products, in particular in designing and manufacturing activities; increases the recyclability of products, including the recyclability of individual materials contained in those products, inter alia, by substitution or reduced use of products and materials that are not recyclable, in particular in designing and manufacturing activities; substantially reduces the content of hazardous substances and substitutes substances of very high concern in materials and products throughout their life cycle, in line with the objectives set out in Union law, including by replacing such substances with safer alternatives and ensuring traceability; prolongs the use of products, including through reuse, design for longevity, repurposing, disassembly, remanufacturing, upgrades and repair, and sharing products; increases the use of secondary raw materials and their quality, including by high-quality recycling of waste; prevents or reduces waste generation, including the generation of waste from the extraction of minerals and waste from the construction and demolition of buildings; increases preparing for the re-use and recycling of waste; increases the development of the waste management infrastructure needed for prevention, for preparing for re-use and for recycling, while ensuring that the recovered materials are recycled as high-quality secondary raw material input in production, thereby avoiding downcycling; minimises the incineration of waste and avoids the disposal of waste, including landfilling, in accordance with the principles of the waste hierarchy; enables any of the activities listed in points (a) to (k) of this paragraph in accordance with Article 16. supplement paragraph 1 of this Article by establishing technical screening criteria for determining the conditions under which a specific economic activity qualifies as contributing substantially to the transition to a circular economy; and.