The specialisation of different countries and regions on the production of goods and services that they can offer at a competitive price has been the foundation of the growing wealth humankind has experienced over centuries. To make sure these goods are produced in alignment with defined environmental and social norms and standards, different frameworks have been established over the past decades – be it the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Global Compact or sector specific standards. The EU has been a key driver in pushing for the implementation of such goals throughout the supply chain. Legislations like CSRD, CSDDD, the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) have led to increasing pressure on companies around the world to continuously increase their ESG standards.

The recent months saw shocks on two fronts: The announcement of unprecedented tariffs through the US Government questions the benefit of specialisation in global markets and has lead to great insecurity and market volatility. At the same time, the EU has – in an attempt to find their way back to competitive growth – announced extensive simplifications of their sustainability frameworks. In emerging and developing economies where most of the goods we consume are produced, this leads to doubled negative impacts on the achievement of the SDGs.

A country like Vietnam, production site of sports goods, textiles, furniture, coffee and much more, faces the potential loss of the positive momentum which has lifted millions of people out of poverty. At the same time, the already reduced pressure for transparency and ESG standards puts achieved progress at risk. A green finance strategy can be a way forward for such a country to foster the transition into a more sustainable economy. Swiss training to Vietnamese banking executives supports the adoption of sustainability principles in the financial sector (see SSF activities below). However, only when market conditions stay fair and clear sustainability standards are maintained, will such a strategy have the chance to achieve the defined targets.

> Visit our website for more about these and other SSF activities

European News

• The EU Commission has a call for evidence on their SFDR simplification running until the end of May. Their proposed simplification aims to make the regulatory framework more usable for practitioners and thereby prevent greenwashing.
• Mark Branson, the BaFin President, cites two crucial reasons for maintaining the sustainable finance journey despite headwinds, namely the necessity of the financial sector in helping Europe to meet its 2050 carbon neutrality goals and the acute risks posed by impending climate change to the financial system.

International News

• Earlier this month the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) published several short-term climate scenarios that allow central banks and supervisors updated tools to assess near-term macro-financial risks form climate change for a three-year horizon.

We are happy to welcome the following organisations as new SSF partners:

• Patrimonium Asset Management AG (Asset Manager)
• Swiss Better Gold Association (Network Partner)

The full list of our members and network partners, now standing at 262 can be found here.  

• With sustainable finance having grown in importance over the years, education on sustainable finance is becoming key for all financial market players. The SSF Academy was re-launched on a new platform and now combines an overview of existing courses available in Switzerland and SSF eLearnings. It thereby helps professionals to find the education path that best fits their learning goals and needs.

• 22 May 2025: SSF Roundtable Sustainable Real Estate Investments, Geneva, for SSF members only
• 4 June 2025: The New Nature of Business: Fireside Chat with André Hoffmann and Expert Panel Discussion, CSP Event, Zurich (featuring Sabine Döbeli on the expert panel)
• 5 June 2025: Nature Exchange Group Session 3, SSF and GCNSL, online, for SSF members only
• 11 June 2025: ESG Reporting Conference, Hochschule Luzern, Luzern
• 11 June 2025: SSF Roundtable Sustainable Real Estate Investments, Zurich, for SSF members only
• 12 June 2025: SSF Webinar “Sustainable Investing - Here to Stay”. Edition 1: Effect of Climate Risk on Performance”,  register here
• 13 June 2025: Addressing Climate-Related Financial Risk in Pragmatic and Effective Ways,  CCRS, Zurich (in cooperation with SSF)
• 17 June 2025: SSF Annual Conference, Bern
• 23 June 2025: SSF: Investment Market Study Launch Webinar, register here
• Save the Date: 24 June 2025: GIIN/SPII/SSF Webinar: Impact Investing in the healthcare sector
• Save the date: 26 August 2025: SSF / SIX / McKinsey event: Investment Opportunities in Carbon Markets, Zurich
• Save the date: 24 September 2025: SSF/SFI Sustainable Investment Conference, Zurich