Sustainable Finance
Sustainable Finance
Sustainable Finance
Climate change caused by humanity and the dramatic decline in biodiversity are currently already causing enormous damage and costs, accompanied by far-reaching economic, social and societal consequences. The increasing number and extent of natural catastrophes and storm damage – increasingly also in Austria and Europe – show how risk and acute risks have already become in relation to climate change and loss of biodiversity. Despite international and national endeavours to address climate change and the loss of biodiversity, both global warming and biodiversity loss are continuing unabated, with consequences that manifest themselves increasingly severely.
The financial market assumes a key role in the structural change towards a sustainable and climate-neutral economy. Financial market participants may contribute significantly, both as providers of financial products and as institutional investors, to reducing the impact of climate change and to make the transition to a more sustainable and more resilient economy. Capital flows are intended to be channelled towards sustainable investments in according with the European Commission’s Action Plan for Sustainable Finance and the Green Deal by integrating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) sustainability aspects into the regulatory and supervisory frameworks. In addition, measures will be pushed for overcoming financial risks arising from climate change, natural catastrophes and social problems, as well as to promote transparency and a long-term orientation in relation to financial and economic activity.
Areas of Supervision
The following section contains information about the FMA’s different areas of supervision. Generally, with regard to sustainability the FMA particularly focuses on dialogue with supervised entities, to promote a continual exchange of knowledge and learning together. The respective thematic subpages contain further information about the specific forms and offerings of such supervisory dialogue.
An FMA Forum was held online on 18 November 2025 on Sustainable Finance for Management and Supervisory Bodies. After a keynote delivered by FMA Executive Director, experts from the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF), the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management (BMLUK), the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB) and the FMA presented the latest developments about sustainable finance to participating members from the management and supervisory bodies of supervised entities. The event’s focus was the regulatory framework on sustainable finance in a period of change, as well as a flashlight presentation about the changes in relation to climate change and physical risks arising from climate change and the biodiversity crisis. The presentation slides from the event including video messages can be downloaded here (in German only):
Präsentationsfolien FMA-Forum Sustainable Finance (Format: pdf, Size: 4,1 MB, Language: German)
FMA Sustainable Finance Hub
The FMA has established a Sustainable Finance Hub within the FMA to coordinate the authority’s various activities as well as for a coordinated external representation in relation to sustainable finance. As a thematic first port of call, questions and enquires may be mailed to [email protected].