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.
Highlights of 2024
Advocacy
This year, the Sustainable Growth Committee formulated recommendations to the Sustainable Growth section of the ‘Cooperation for a More Competitive and Sustainable Hungary for 2024 – 2025’ recommendation package published in April. Through our recommendations, we stress that a gradual green transition of the economy, and industry in particular, is necessary, although it is only possible if these changes do not impose a disproportionate burden on society and do not undermine the competitiveness of EU businesses.
Committee events
The Committee initiated three separate policy forums on green transition.
- Policy Forum with Dr. Barbara Botos, Hungary's Ambassador at Large for Climate
On May 17, AmCham Hungary hosted Dr. Barbara Botos, Hungary’s Ambassador-at-large for Climate to our Policy Forum to discuss recent global and European developments in climate policy. Dr. Botos provided an overview about COP 28, the UAE consensus on the Global Stocktake (a comprehensive assessment of global progress towards climate goals). She also addressed the main questions of Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and EU regulation on deforestation.
- Policy Forum with Anikó Raisz, State Secretary for the Environment and Circular Economy
On March 28, we organized a Policy Forum with Anikó Raisz, State Secretary for the Environment and Circular Economy, focusing on the most important topics of green transition in anticipation of the upcoming EU presidency. During the event, State Secretary Raisz emphasized the heightened focus on issues of competitiveness, sustainability, and innovation for the upcoming months. Additionally, discussions touched upon product lifecycle, waste management, mass balance calculation methods and the new Green Claims Directive.
Major highlights of 2023
Committee events
In 2023, 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.
