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Accelerating climate adaptation is inevitable, requires action, and can only be achieved through cooperation

At the meeting of the Net Zero Advisory Board on September 16, hosted by the Ministry of Energy, Dr. Csaba Gondola, State Secretary for Circular Economy and Climate Policy, emphasized in his welcoming speech how important the work of the board is and how committed he is to professional cooperation. In his presentation, he outlined the regulations and plans for promoting climate adaptation.

As president of BCSDH, Attila Chikán Jr. emphasized the importance of adapting to a changing and increasingly fast-paced world, in which the business sector plays a key role. Those who act in time not only suffer less from the resulting damage and risks, but also create opportunities.

The work of the Luxembourg Advisory Board, presented by Prof. Dr. Diána Ürge-Vorsatz, Vice-Chair of the IPCC, may provide further ideas and inspiration for the work of the advisory board. Participants agreed that, in addition to scientific organizations, it is necessary to involve representatives of the sectors and industries concerned.

Irén Márta, Executive Director of BCSDH, presented the organization’s annual professional work and points of connection, emphasizing the wide-ranging involvement of stakeholders in relation to the year’s key topic, climate adaptation. On behalf of the organization, Andrea Nagy, project manager of Race to Zero program, presented the recommendations and proposed action plan for climate adaptation in the business sector that were developed during the professional work.

Participants of the event:

  • Zsombor Barta – Senior Advisor to the National Assembly, International Relations Officer, National Council for Sustainable Development
  • Attila Chikán Jr. – President, Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH)
  • Dr. Csaba Gondola – State Secretary for Circular Economy and Climate Policy, Ministry of Energy
  • András Kárpáti – President, Future Mobility Alliance
  • Kriszti Kocsis – Senior Policy Officer, British Embassy
  • Irén Márta – Managing Director, Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH)
  • Andrea Nagy – Race to Zero Project Manager, Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH)
  • Gábor Szarvas – President, Hungary Green Building Council (HuGBC)
  • Katalin Szmollár – Head of Cabinet, State Secretariat for Circular Economy and Climate Policy, Ministry of Energy
  • Prof. Dr. Diána Ürge-Vorsatz – Vice-Chair, UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

A photo gallery of the event can be accessed by clicking HERE.

Thanks to the sponsors of our Race to Zero program:

 

What next after the Omnibus package and the changes to the ESG law? – ESG working group meeting at Colas

The ESG legislative framework in Europe and in Hungary (CSRD, CSDDD, Hungarian ESG Act) is going through a turbulent period. What changes are expected? How will this affect the preparation of companies?” – we sought the answers on 15 April together with more than 40 of our member companies at the BCSDH ESG working group meeting.

At the beginning of the meeting, Mátyás Bellaagh, CEO of Colas Hungária Zrt. IIR welcomed the guests. He emphasized that we have witnessed significant changes in the field of sustainability reporting in recent years, especially in this significantly changing environment.

On 3 April 2025, the European Parliament and on 14 April the EU Council voted in favour of the European Commission’s “stop-the-clock” proposal, which delays the implementation deadlines for the most important sustainability regulations – the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).

Zsófia Reizinger, ESG Consultant and Ákos Veisz, Managing Director of BDO Hungary ESG Consulting Ltd. They confirmed that it is worth continuing to prepare and to pay attention to strategic initiatives. They also gave a brief presentation on the planned amendments to the Hungarian ESG Act.


Although less publicised, the VSME (Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for non-listed SMEs), which can support companies in voluntary reporting, was finalised in December 2024. Julianna Nagy, Senior Manager at KPMG, pointed out that for companies that will no longer be covered by the CSRD, the Commission will adopt a voluntary reporting standard based on the VSME developed by EFRAG through a delegated act.

The presentations were followed by small group discussions where participants could directly share their experiences. Thank you to the working group members Julianna Nagy, Nora Stancsics and Ákos Veisz for moderating!

Thanks to our sponsors!

 

Collaboration and meaningful action are the keys to successful and timely climate adaptation – the Net Zero Advisory Board convened

Is action on the net-zero targets already visible in companies? Where are there improvements and challenges? Is climate adaptation really as important as climate protection? What collaborations and solutions can help to achieve meaningful progress and systemic change? What is the roadmap for the Hungarian construction industry to become carbon neutral and what are the tools to help achieve this? On 15 April, the Net Zero Advisory Board, set up to promote the carbon neutrality of the Hungarian economy, met again.

Hosting the event at the British Ambassador’s residence, Paul Fox, the UK Ambassador to Hungary, welcomed the participants and emphasized in his speech that they remain committed to meaningfully promoting climate-neutral actions in Hungary, and highlighted the need to give climate adaptation a more prominent role.

Attila Chikán Jr., President of the Business Council for Sustainable Development of Hungary (BCSDH), in his welcome speech at the multi-stakeholder platform, stressed that as global and European trends have the effect of softening sustainability goals and expectations for decisive action, this situation requires even more effort and cooperation from committed companies and other actors.

Irén Márta, Director of the BCSDH, stressed that whatever happens to climate targets, the consequences of climate change are already having a serious impact on the performance of companies. And this will only increase, at an accelerating rate. For this reason, the need for climate action is not an issue. Every company needs to assess where changes may present a business risk or even a new opportunity. The BCSDH’s Towards Net Zero survey published in January 2025 found that 91% of companies are feeling the effects of climate change, but only 16% have a climate adaptation action plan.

Andrea Nagy, Project Manager of the BCSDH Race to Zero programme, presented the further results of the research. 66 percent of Hungarian companies committed to a sustainable transition have specific climate change targets, and the number of companies measuring their emissions along the entire value chain has doubled. According to the survey, 26 percent of the leading companies in Hungary have scientific emission reduction targets that meet the 1.5 degree target. While this is higher than the global average, it is still far below what is needed to achieve it.

Gábor Szarvas, President of the Hungary Green Building Association (HuGBC), gave an insight into the work and achievements of his organisation. He presented their roadmap for the decarbonisation of the Hungarian construction industry and a guide to help them achieve this.

Board members participating in the event shared future goals and plans with other members, identifying numerous points of connection and joint collaboration opportunities in order to strengthen synergies and expand impact.

Participants of the Board meeting:

  • Zsombor Barta – Parlamentary Senior Counselor, National Council for Sustainable Development
  • Attila Chikán Jr – President, BCSDH
  • Paul Fox – Ambassador, British Embassy
  • Anikó Juhász  – Deputy State Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture
  • Csaba Kandrács Dr.  – Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Hungary
  • András Kárpáti – President, Future Mobility Association
  • Kocsis Kriszti – Attache, Senior Policy Officer, British Embassy
  • Csaba Kőrösi  – Strategic Director, Blue Planet Foundation, former President of UN General Assembly
  • Irén Márta – Director, BCSDH
  • Andrea Nagy – Race to Zero Project Manager, BCSDH
  • Gábor Szarvas – President, Hungary Green Building Council (HuGBC)

For a photo gallery of the event CLICK here.

The Net Zero Advisory Board, a multi-stakeholder, cross-sectoral Advisory Board of Hungarian industry and business leaders, government and professional organisations, was established in January 2021 at the initiative of the British Embassy and BCSDH.

A Climate-Adapted Lifestyle Must Also Be Sustainable – Report from the BCSDH Communications Working Group Meeting

How willing are consumers to change their habits for a 1.5-degree lifestyle? Would people be more likely to give up meat or their car? Are there values strong enough to drive a shift in attitudes? How is the current difficult economic situation affecting the market for sustainable consumer goods? Can we achieve our goals without a sustainable lifestyle and individual action? Are climate adaptation and sustainable living compatible?

Following her presentation on the results of the 1.5-Degree Lifestyle Project, Edina Vadovics, Executive Director of the GreenDependent Institute, engaged in a discussion with Márk Maczelka, Head of Communications at SPAR Hungary, and Zsuzsa Károlyi, Head of Brand and Marketing at E.ON, moderated by Irén Márta. The conversation explored the above questions, as well as the topic of sustainable and resilient lifestyles, their challenges, the current situation, and the road ahead. At the working group meeting held on March 12, 2025, participants were welcomed by Olivér Martin, Group Head of Internal Audit and Compliance at Szentkirályi Hungary, who acted as host. Nikolett Van der Wildt, Sustainability and PR Manager, gave a presentation on the company’s sustainability achievements.

Research from the 1.5-Degree Lifestyle Project reveals that if the top 10% of earners in society were to take visible steps toward a more sustainable lifestyle, mitigating climate change could become a realistic goal. The decarbonization of industry alone will not be sufficient — individual and household-level action, as well as systemic change, are also necessary.Technological investments and lifestyle changes that require only minor adjustments are generally more accepted. However, much more drastic action is needed to achieve meaningful climate impact.
There is also potential for shifts in attitudes.

The roundtable discussion and the informal dialogue that followed revealed that existential concerns often override sustainable purchasing decisions — but we must not give up. An individual — or even a company — can act as a nano-scale catalyst that steers processes in the right direction. It is a Sisyphean task, but if everyone moves in the same direction, progress will come. We are halfway to 2050. Much has been done, but even more lies ahead. We must find the right answers. We need to decide where to allocate our resources — where they can have the greatest impact. We must view our products and services through the lens of how they support, or could support, individuals on the path to a sustainable lifestyle.

Latest news on ESG legislative changes

CSRD: „Stop-the-clock”

On 3rd April 2025, the European Parliament voted in favour of the European Commission’s “stop-the-clock” proposal to delay the implementation deadlines for key sustainability regulations – the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).

What does the proposal contain?

  • Large companies with more than 250 employees would start reporting CSRD in 2028 for the financial year 2027, while listed SMEs would start reporting one year later.
  • The first group of companies covered by the CSRDD, including EU companies with more than 5,000 employees and a turnover of €1.5 billion, would start applying the rules from 2028, with an additional year for Member States to transpose the rules into national law.

The European Commission has also instructed the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) to finalise technical advice on the CSRD’s European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) within seven months. This could allow companies to optionally implement the new standards as early as the 2026 financial year.
The decision was approved by the European Council on 14 April. The proposal requires Member States to transpose the changes into national law by 31 December 2025.

Amendments to the ESG law expected

On 19 March 2025, the Ministry of National Economy submitted a draft law amending the ESG legislation for public consultation. Under the proposed changes, large companies covered by the law will have an additional two years to prepare their first certified ESG report, so that they will have to publish their first public report in 2028.
Another important element is that under the amendment, domestic micro, small and medium-sized enterprises would be fully exempted from all ESG reporting obligations until mid-2027, after which they would only have to complete a significantly shorter questionnaire.
Information on the public consultation has been shared by BCSDH with all its member companies.

 

More information: EUR-Lex

Our Grandfathers Cooled Themselves Under Trees, Today We Go to Air-Conditioned Supermarkets—The Urgency of Climate Adaptation Is Undeniable – Jan Pokorný at BCSDH’s Business Breakfast

Extreme climate and weather events are becoming more frequent and severe. The cost of the resulting damage and losses is $16 million per hour globally. A significant part of this stems from our lack of understanding of nature’s interconnections. Our current systems and infrastructures are no longer sufficient to handle these challenges—we must urgently adapt to the changing climate. And once again, nature itself offers solutions, as highlighted by Jan Pokorný, co-founder and research director of the research organization ENKI, o.p.s., at the BCSDH Business Breakfast and Forum held on March 25, which focused on climate adaptation. The event was hosted by Dr. Csaba Kandrács, Vice President of the Hungarian National Bank, who welcomed the participants.

According to a report from 2025 by the World Economic Forum, the leaders who were surveyed ranked extreme weather conditions as the second greatest risk factor using a two-year outlook and the top risk from a ten-year perspective.

 

“Improper landscape management—stemming from ‘plant illiteracy’, i.e., the low level of human knowledge about plants—is leading to an increase in continental droughts, rising local temperatures, and the development of an arid climate, interrupted by torrential rains and extreme weather events. This ignorance also affects climate adaptation, as we fail to properly utilize nature in this process. People do not understand the role of plant transpiration in the ‘air-conditioning’ function of vegetation, its impact on the water cycle, or the interactions between plants and the atmosphere. By gaining a deeper understanding of these processes, we can equip ourselves with numerous tools for both climate mitigation and adaptation.”- said Jan Pokorný, co-founder and research director of the research organization ENKI, o.p.s., in his thought-provoking presentation.

The BCSDH’s Towards Net Zero survey, published in January 2025, highlighted that while 91% of companies are feeling the impacts of climate change, only 16% have a climate adaptation action plan. Moreover, Hungary is disproportionately vulnerable to the negative effects of climate change relative to its small contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions.

“The frequency of extreme weather events has increased, and the business sector must also prepare for this. We need to assess how these changes may impact business operations and develop strategies for adapting to our changing world,” – said Attila Chikán Jr., President of BCSDH, in his opening speech. – “Although several international developments are working against sustainability efforts, this does not mean that companies can relax their commitments regarding climate change. The climate change is not slowing down—it is becoming increasingly severe.”

Increasing reporting obligations have led to growth in the number of sustainability strategies and the use of related metrics, significantly impacting climate adaptation and the assessment of physical risks. Integrating sustainability considerations into financial decision-making clearly facilitates resilience planning.

Global and European trends may lead to a softening of sustainability goals and expectations about decisive action. However, regardless of what happens with climate targets, conditions are already changing, and this process will only intensify. The need for climate adaptation is unquestionable.

Following the presentations, a closed forum brought together business leaders, and corporate, scientific, and civil experts to discuss the best methods for preparing for climate adaptation, key considerations regarding implementing successful adaptation measures, and the role of water as a critical element in climate resilience. The forum also highlighted numerous business-related best practices.

The discussions were led by Dr. Barbara Wassen, Climate Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Energy; Dr. Gábor Bartus, Secretary of the National Council for Sustainable Development; and Dr. Károly Kovács, President of the Hungarian Water and Wastewater Technology Association and CEO of Pureco Ltd.

The findings from the forum—covering Hungary’s current situation, key challenges, and driving factors—will be further explored in executive roundtable discussions in May. The goal is to develop recommendations for companies on climate adaptation, which will be presented at the BCSDH Business Lunch in October. Encouraging companies to act and supporting them in taking the most critical steps remains a top priority.

Great ideas emerge from many ideas!

Why do we (unconsciously) resist change? What is necessary for successful innovation? What are the biggest challenges of innovation? What is an ant mill? How does a circular economy resemble a well-functioning kitchen? Which is the most innovative country in the world? – These were among the key topics discussed at the third professional day of the Future Leaders program, focusing on sustainable innovation, products, and services. The event was opened by our host, Maria Rita Maresca, Managing Director of EUROAPI Hungary Ltd.

At the beginning of the program, Zita Szederkényi, the head of the program, introduced participants to the day’s theme with an interactive time-travel game, emphasizing the essential role of innovation.

The first presentation was delivered by Prof. Dr. Csaba Deák, a professor at the University of Miskolc, who illustrated various aspects of innovation through well-executed examples, including its risks, timing of implementation, and the relationship between innovation strategy and technological maturity. He highlighted six key factors for successful innovation, particularly emphasizing the importance of having a Plan B and the critical role of execution.

Dr. György Purebl, Director of the Institute of Behavioral Sciences at Semmelweis University, gave a lecture on the human aspects of innovation and change. He discussed learned helplessness, our attitudes toward change, and how those with better failure management skills are more likely to undertake innovation initiatives, thereby increasing their chances of success. He emphasized the importance of switching flexibly between decision-making strategies, which is crucial in innovation. On one end of the spectrum is the “Zombie” mode, where everything follows automated routines, while the other extreme is the “Hamlet” state, where every decision is overanalyzed. Recognizing one’s position on this scale is essential for successful innovation.

The latter part of the morning focused on project work related to climate adaptation. Andrea Nagy, professional project manager at BCSDH, highlighted in her introduction that climate adaptation must be addressed alongside emission reduction, always considering a comprehensive approach.

The project teams then applied the BricksMagic Lego® Serious Play® method, using creative construction to define sustainability challenges they aimed to solve with their projects. Their work was supported by Richárd Hlavay, founder of BricksMagic.

The afternoon program continued with an engaging panel discussion featuring Dr. Gábor Ligeti (Heineken), Péter Chrabák (Bay Zoltán Institute), and Rajmund Percze (AGROLOOP), who shared their insights on ensuring continuous renewal in companies. The discussion covered how sustainable innovation can be a key factor in the long-term success of both large corporations and startups. Participants emphasized the increasing role of sustainability in innovation and investments, as well as the importance of collaboration between research and development companies and multinational corporations to drive sustainable solutions forward.

Róbert Nádasi, Deputy CEO of Masterplast Nyrt., presented the company’s achievements in sustainability, as well as their innovative insulation solution, the Green Hungarocell Program, which is the first certified circular economy model in the Hungarian construction industry. The program focuses on collecting and recycling polystyrene-based construction waste, thereby reducing environmental impact.

After a brief introduction by Melinda Sárközi, EUROAPI’s internal communications colleague, the participants took part in a factory tour in three groups, guided by expert EUROAPI colleagues. During the tour, they visited a production facility, the laboratory, and one of the warehouse buildings. The groups were welcomed by well-prepared colleagues, who provided insights into how sustainability elements are integrated into warehouse processes and also introduced a digitalized daily capacity planning tool in the quality control area.

To conclude the day, the participants had a discussion with Maria Rita Maresca, Managing Director, who shared insights about her career, experiences, key aspects of leadership, and managing culturally diverse teams. She emphasized that one of the simplest yet most effective indicators of good leadership is the smile on people’s faces.

The photo gallery from the professional day is available at the following link.

What can we do for climate adaptation in one of the hottest places in Hungary?

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How did a palm tree end up on Mikszáth Square? Climate anxiety or climate rage? How can we convince city dwellers to choose trees over parking spaces? What difference can an extra 20 minutes make? What is inclusive mobility? – These were some of the questions explored during the spring ‘Future Leaders’ Alumni event, held on March 18 at our host venue, the KPMG Rooftop 825 Café, with guest speaker Dániel Rádai, Deputy Mayor for Urban Development of Józsefváros Municipality.

The participants were welcomed by Julianna Nagy, Senior Manager of KPMG, Irén Márta, Director of BCSDH and Máté Bori, Alumni Leader of “Future Leaders” and Director of Operations at Ayvens.

The evening continued with an inspiring conversation led by Gellért Guti, Quality Assurance Engineer at Reptéri Üzemanyag-kiszolgáló Kft. Dániel Rádai – Deputy Mayor for Urban Development, water polo coach, and lifelong resident of Józsefváros – shared insights into his professional journey, international experience, and the everyday work, inspiration, and processes that are driving the transformation of one of Hungary’s hottest districts into a greener, more sustainable urban environment.

The full photo gallery is available here.

The question is not whether we can do it, but whether we are willing to do it

This is one of the key messages of the Beyond Zero film, which BCSDH organised for the second time for its member companies and invited guests on 5 March as part of the Race to Zero programme. The event was again hosted by the E.ON Hungária Group.

The inspiring documentary film shows the transformation of the company and its management through the person of Ray Anderson, answering the questions of what are the steps for a successful paradigm shift, how to engage the management, convince investors and engage business partners to achieve climate goals.

 

The screening was followed by a CEO roundtable discussion with Gábor Décsi, CEO of DOME Facility Services and János Kocsány, CEO of Graphisoft Park SE. During the discussion, moderated by Irén Márta, Director of BCSDH, several aspects were covered, touching on the role of leadership by example, the importance of unconventional choices and opportunities that put sustainability at the forefront. Through their personal examples, they also gave ideas to the audience on how to engage the members of the organisation and foster this kind of approach and commitment. They stressed that sustainability is also a business case that pays off and can deliver significant improvements at industry and system level.

Az inspiráló film hazai terjesztésében a BCSDH együttműködik a Sustainova csapatával, amely remek eszköz lehet a vállalati elkötelezettség növeléséhez és a munkatársak bevonásához, hogy minél gyorsabban megvalósuljon a rendszerszintű változás és érdemi cselekvés a klímacélok érdekében.

BCSDH is partnering with the Sustainova team to disseminate the inspiring film domestically, which can be a great tool to increase corporate engagement and employee involvement to accelerate systemic change and meaningful action towards climate goals.

You can see the photos of the event by clicking here.

Significant changes expected in sustainability reporting

The European Commission is simplifying rules on sustainability and EU investment. On 26 February 2025, it adopted the first of two Omnibus packages aimed at simplifying sustainable financial reporting, sustainability due diligence, the EU tax system, the carbon cap adjustment mechanism and the European investment programs.

What are the main changes?

CSRD:

  • Around 80% of companies will be excluded from the scope of CSRD, and sustainability reporting will apply to the largest companies;
    • Only large companies with a turnover of €50 million / balance sheet total of €25 million and >1000 employees would be affected
  • Postpone for two years (until 2028) the reporting obligations for companies currently covered by the CSRD, with reporting obligations from 2026 or 2027,
  • Only limited certainty is required,
  • Fewer mandatory data points are expected under the revised ESRS,
  • No sector-specific standards will be introduced.

EU Taxonomy:

  • Reduced reporting burden and reporting obligations under EU taxonomy (the latter will be aligned with the CSDDD).

CSDDD:

  • Simplification of sustainability due diligence requirements,
    • Systematic due diligence obligations will only apply to direct suppliers,
    • The frequency of periodic assessment and monitoring will be changed to 5 years (from 1 year), with ad hoc assessments where necessary,
    • Limit the amount of information that can be requested by large companies,
    • The application of the sustainability due diligence requirements for the largest companies will be delayed by one year (until 26 July 2028) and the adoption of the guidelines will be brought forward by one year (until July 2026).

Next steps

The proposals will be presented by the Commission to the European Parliament and the European Council for consideration and adoption.
The changes to the CSRD, CSDDD and CBAM will enter into force once the co-legislators agree on the proposals and once they are published in the Official Journal of the EU.
The changes to the Taxonomy will be adopted following public feedback and will apply at the end of the scrutiny period by the European Parliament and the Council.

 

More information:
Press release
Q&A

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