Our goal is to help members get a better understanding of the European Green Deal, in relation to EU and Hungarian legislation, available financing and innovative corporate best practices.
Th Sustainable Growth Committee started its operation as the EU Green Deal Working Group in March 2021 in line with our efforts to put sustainability at the forefront of our advocacy work and our nation's economic policy, outlined in the Policy Agenda 2021-2025.
The Working Group, which became a committee in 2022, invites governmental and corporate experts from Hungary and the EU to the discussion to share key information and best practices. In the longer run, members have the possibility to form statements and recommendations, based on consensus.
The Committee is led by Thomas Narbeshuber, Managing Director of BASF Hungary.
Major highlights of 2023
Committee events
This year, the Sustainable Growth Committee initiated three separate policy forums on energetics and climate policy, as well as an open committee meeting on the new MoHu waste management system.
- Policy Forum with Dr. Barbara Botos, Hungary’s Ambassador-at-large for Climate
Dr. Botos talked about the discussions and achievements of COP 26 and COP 27, upcoming related programs, Hungary’s updated Biodiversity Strategy, and the United States Inflation Reduction Act and how it compares to EU regulations.
- Policy Forum with Attila Steiner, State Secretary for Energetics and Climate Policy
On May 3, AmCham hosted Attila Steiner, State Secretary for Energetics and Climate Policy at its Policy Forum where participants were given a highlight on status of the "Fit for 55" package, as well as the Hungarian position on certain elements of the green transition framework.
- Policy Forum with the Deputy State Secretaries of the Ministry of Energy
On October 25, AmCham welcomed three distinguished guests form the Ministry of Energy including Márk Dezső Alföldy-Boruss, Deputy State Secretary for Energy Policy, Daniella Deli, Deputy State Secretary for Climate Policy and Viktor Horváth, Deputy State Secretary for Energy Transition, to its Policy Forum.
- Open Committee Meeting with Zsolt Pethő, Managing Director, MOHU
To learn more about the role and plans of MOL Group related to waste management and the EU’s sustainability goals, our Sustainable Growth Committee invited Zsolt Pethő, Managing Director, MOHU to an open Committee Meeting on June 23.
Major highlights of 2022
Advocacy
In the framework of our advocacy activities, the Sustainable Growth Committee elaborated nine recommendations in areas such as energy security, sustainable finance, mobility, and chemical strategy which were then sent to relevant government stakeholders and discussed with the Ministry of Innovation and Technology and The Central Bank during closed-door meetings.
Journey to Zero: I. AmCham Sustainability Conference
Our first sustainability conference in 2022 was organized with the objective to take a closer look at how companies and leaders can navigate the complexity that the EU Green Deal and the Fit for 55 package brings.
The summit, held at the Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest, featured speeches, panel discussion on the Fit for 55 package and Sustainability Stories – best practices from innovative industry players. This was followed with four breakout sessions around clean energy, circular economy, mobility, and sustainable financing.
The event featured Deputy Permanent Representative and Hungary’s Ambassador to the EU Gábor Baranyai, and Martin Porter, executive chair of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership in Brussels, expert advisor to the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 program on climate and resource issues as keynote speakers. In addition, the event also featured experts, from both the private and public sectors as speakers.
Photos about the conference can be viewed in the Gallery.
Policy Forum
At an online Policy Forum held in October, State Secretary for Environment Protection and Circular Economy Anikó Raisz talked to AmCham members about the government’s Circular Economy strategy providing a strategic overview of circular water and waste management, the Singleuse Plastic directive, the importance of innovation and new technologies, as well as the symptoms of greenwashing. Following the forum, State Secretary Raisz signaled she is open to receiving inputs from AmCham members on the Government’s Circular Economy strategy. A follow-up meeting was held with 20 members, collecting input for our recommendations.
