Sustainable Finance – Where we are and how we can go further

Abstract

The purpose of the article/hypothesis: The purpose of the paper is to present the historical background of sustainable development and importance of sustainable finance, and to discuss the most important challenges currently facing sustainable finance. The article verifies the research hypothesis: recent changes (implementing of the EBA Action Plan, the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulations and facing the COVID-19) in the finance sector can help institutions pursue an effective, sustainable development policy.Methodology: The article contains an extensive literature review of the sustainable development policy (including legal acts).Results of the research: Sustainable development in the finance sector plays an important role and is currently facing three main challenges: the implementation of the EBA Action Plan, the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation and COVID-19. The EBA Action Plan and SFDRs may initially require financial institutions to change their policy and thus complicate their operations, but later bring only benefits (e.g. transparency). On the other hand, the COVID-19 pandemic is a significant obstacle to the implementation of the sustainable development policy due to countries and entities focused on fighting this threat (including using financial resources). However, it should be mentioned that sustainable development brings long-term effects (including more effective development), thanks to which companies can achieve the desired benefits and overcome the obstacles and crises caused by the pandemic and future crisis.