As climate shocks, geopolitical tensions, and rapid technological change reshape the global economy, competitiveness increasingly depends on resilience and the ability of companies and investors to plan and act with confidence. Sustainable finance is central, not optional, for successful business strategies and supporting policy frameworks. It strengthens risk management, boosts transparency, and supports transition investments. Based on this, companies, nations, and economic regions reinforce their resilience and long-term competitiveness.

The EU’s Omnibus I Package (Official Journal, 26 February 2026) reduces administrative burdens and reporting obligations, exempting around 80% of originally affected companies. From a practical point of view, the simplification of overly complex and burdensome requirements was key. However, in efforts to promote competitiveness, not enough consideration was given to why sustainability transparency matters and which reporting simplifications genuinely support it.

In Switzerland, a similar debate lies ahead. Upcoming Federal Council consultations on reporting obligations and the counterproposal to the Corporate Responsibility Initiative 2.0 will reveal whether market actors view sustainability and resilience as integral to long-term business success.

I look forward to discussions on how to advance future competitiveness.

Swiss News

• The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) issued guidance clarifying that climate claims must be clear, accurate, and verifiable under the Unfair Competition Act. It outlines that product claims cannot rely on offsets, and the term “climate-neutral” should not be used.
• MINERGIE launched a new net-zero certification for real estate to catalyze Swiss decarbonization. The net-zero certificate is awarded to real estate that compensate for the GHG-emissions that cannot be avoided or captured.

European News

• The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published further examples of good and poor practice for funds under its Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) labelling regime.
• The EU’s DG FISMA is asking the European Supervisory Authorities to review key sustainability KPIs under the Taxonomy Regulation. The goal is to make reporting clearer, help finance green investments, and prevent greenwashing, with advice due by October 2026.
• The EU OMNIBUS removed the legal requirement for companies to adopt transition plans, but financial institutions still need them under other rules. Experts warn this may reduce transparency, increase greenwashing risks, and create fragmented data, making risk management and consistent reporting more important than ever.
• The European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change calls for an urgent improvement of the EU’s climate adaptation framework as Europe faces €45 billion in annual climate related damages. The Advisory Board calls for harmonised risk assessments, clear 2050 adaptation targets, and coordinated public and private investment.

Market News

• The ISS (Institutional Shareholder Services) expressed commitment to the voluntary Swiss Stewardship Code by describing how its governance research, proxy voting services, and stewardship support the Code’s principles to promote long‑term value and transparency in investment stewardship.
• On 25 February the Net Zero Asset Managers (NZAM) initiative was relaunched, supported by more than 250 asset managers having signed the renewed Commitment Statement containing transition targets. Although the number of signatories is lower than previously, the relaunch is a sign that the financial market still recognizes climate related financial risks.
• The GIIN has published an open call to join the working group helping to institutionalize the GIIN’s Climate Solutions Investing Framework. The aim is to provide tools and  guidance and improve market understanding in order to accelerate the transition toward a low carbon economy.
• First Street’s paper shows that with extreme weather events increasing 6.5-fold over the past two decades, companies adapting through self-insurance and financial buffers can gain a strategic advantage by using its Company Module to quantify how physical climate risks disrupt operations and revenues.
• The WWF Nature in Transition Plans initiative highlights the importance of financial institutions developing practical, strategic frameworks to integrate nature conservation and restoration into their policies, investment decisions, and business strategies in order to support global biodiversity goals and accelerate the transition to a nature‑positive economy.

• ZHAW has revised their portfolio of Sustainable Finance Continuing Education Programmes. They now offer 6 two-day seminars covering basics and in-depth knowledge. Based on this, their CAS in Corporate Finance & Sustainability and CAS in Sustainable Investing have been adapted.

• New use case: We added to our dedicated online page a new use case of Artificial Intelligence: “Geospatial intelligence to assess climate, environmental and supply chain risks” by MSCI.  This use case shows how to use AI to identify assets, classify their activities, locate them accurately, capture physical attributes (e.g. footprint, height, value), and link them to corporate and supply-chain structures. Purpose is to translate climate and sustainability risks into actionable portfolio insights
• The University of Zurich (UZH) and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) are currently conducting an industry survey on the potential of “AI and Digital Assets for Sustainable Finance”. The survey can be accessed here.

Special discounts for SSF Members:

Institutional Capital Forum

• Zurich: 22 April 2026, reach out to us for discount code (20% discount)

Ethos Module on ASIP ESG Reporting for Pension Funds

• SSF Members enjoy a 10% discount (reach out to us)

• 26 March 2026: Book Reading: Regenerative Economics , Geneva (SFG)
• 31 March 2026: SPII Community Webinar, Online (SPII)
• 01 April 2026: Sustainable Investment Forum Europe 2026, Paris (Climate Action)
• 16 April 2026: Scaling Carbon Markets through New Technologies, Zurich (GFN/SSF)
• 22 April 2026: 9th Sustainable Investor Summit 2026, Zurich (Institutional Capital Forum, SSF as strategic Partner)
• 4-9 May 2026: Climate Week Zurich, Zurich (Climate Week Zurich)
• 27 May 2026: ESG-Reporting Konferenz 2026 - Vom Reporting zur Resilienz, Rotkreuz (HSLU)
• 18 June 2026: Save the date: SSF Annual Conference, Bern (SSF)

Further events are listed on the SSF website.

• 24 February 2026, Tableau de bord de la finance durable: actions marches émergents, L‘AGEFI (paywall)
• 12 March 2026, Vaduz wird erneut zum Treffpunkt der Finanzbranche, tippinpoint

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