QUEEN’S ACADEMIC APPOINTED TO THE EU COMMISSION PLATFORM ON SUSTAINABLE FINANCE 
10 November 2020
An academic from Queen’s is one of two from the island of Ireland appointed to the Platform on Sustainable Finance at the European Commission.
Dr Theodor Cojoianu, Lecturer in Finance from Queen’s Management School and Professor Andreas Hoepner from University College Dublin’s (UCD) Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School have been appointed for their world-class expertise related to environmental management and sustainable finance.
Dr Cojoianu has been appointed alongside Agent Green, an NGO dedicated to nature protection and responsible management of biodiversity and the environment in Romania, with whom he is an Academic-in-Residence. Dr Cojoianu is also a Visiting Research Fellow at UCD’s Smurfit School.
The Platform on Sustainable Finance will advise the Commission on the development of robust and science-based technical screening criteria for the EU green taxonomy, on sustainable finance policy as well as on the monitoring and reporting of capital flows towards sustainable investments in Europe.
The platform will reach out to a wide range of stakeholders through both public consultations and targeted outreach.
Speaking about the appointment Dr Cojoianu said:
“I am honoured to be appointed together with Agent Green and Professor Hoepner from UCD, and to serve as a member on the Platform on Sustainable Finance.
“The work of the Platform is crucial towards achieving the EU Green Deal objectives, including the achievement of climate neutrality by 2050 and ensuring the protection and restauration of biodiversity. In this respect, I am delighted to use my expertise at the intersection between evidence-based sustainable investment and data science to inform the work of the Commission.
“I am also looking forward to sharing my experience with our students at Queen’s University Belfast in the upcoming Sustainable Finance course as well as fostering an All-Ireland Sustainable Finance community going forward.”
Dr Cojoianu was selected from over 500 applications. In total, the Commission appointed 50 members and ten special observers based on their environmental, sustainable finance or social/human rights expertise.
Speaking about the Platform, Valdis Dombrovskis, EU Commission Executive Vice-President for an Economy that Works for the People said:
“This Sustainable Finance Platform will provide valuable ideas and input in our work to drive green finance forward and to develop the taxonomy, which will play a crucial role in channelling investment into green economic activities.
“It has been heartening to see such tremendous interest from such a wide range of experts and stakeholders to join the Platform. We have struck a very careful balance in selecting people from a wide range of sectors including civil society, industry and academia, and with different skills.
“I look forward to working closely with the Platform over the next months.”
For more information, please visit: https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/sustainable-finance-platform_en
Media enquiries to Zara McBrearty at Queen’s Communications Office on telephone: 07795 676 858.
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