Sustainability

LOGOS has extensive knowledge of sustainable investments, corporate governance and social responsibility. The firm can provide its customers with a comprehensive service that complies with the latest sustainability standards at any given time.

LOGOS assists its customers with a variety of issues, for example:

• assistance with sustainability laws and regulatory compliance,
• advice and assistance in complying with legal requirements on the provision of sustainability information,
• the establishment of statutory and non-statutory internal policies and rules,
• advice and assistance with green financing,
• governance review and update,
• resolution of issues in the field of environmental law,
• assistance in environmental impact assessment, and
• comprehensive sustainability advice based on extensive experience and knowledge in the business sector.

LOGOS considers it its social responsibility to share the knowledge that the firm acquires through research and work in this field. Below you will find practical information about sustainable finances and other sustainability related topics compiled by the firm.

EU action programme

The European Commission published an action programme for sustainable investments in the first half of 2018, outlining the actions that the EU intends to implement in order to steer the flow of capital towards sustainable solutions. The idea is to reform the financial system so that it can become part of the solution, not an obstacle for shaping a green and sustainable economy. On the basis of the action plan, the EU issued three regulations affecting Iceland, Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 on sustainability related disclosures in the financial services sector, Regulation (EU) 2019/2089 on sustainable criteria and Regulation (EU) 2020/852 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment (EU Taxonomy).

Further information can be found in an article by Helga Melkorka Óttarsdóttir and Arnar Sveinn Harðarson, titled Financing a sustainable society (in Icelandic).

The EU Taxonomy

Regulation (EU) 2020/852 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment establishes a harmonised Taxonomy, which makes it possible to classify economic activities according to whether they are environmentally sustainable or not. By harmonizing investors' understanding of the concept of environmentally sustainable business, the regulation facilitates comparisons between sustainable investments and strengthens investor confidence in those investments that are said to be green. The Taxonomy will also oppose "greenwashing", i.e. prevent investments from being marketed as green unless they actually are. The system provides a basis on which to base the actions and instruments of the Union, its Member States and the EFTA States. Thus, EU standards for green bonds and the new EU eco-label for financial products are based on the Taxonomy regulation.

Further information can be found in articles by Helga Melkorka Óttarsdóttir and Arnar Sveinn Harðarson, titled The environment and investments combined (in Icelandic) and The backbone of the green economy (in Icelandic).

Sustainability-related information

Towards the end of 2019, the European Union published Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 on sustainability‐related disclosures in the financial services sector (SFDR). The EU considers it necessary to increase investors’ access to reliable, orderly and accurate information related to investment sustainability, which will make it easier for them to allocate their capital to investment products that have a positive impact on the environment and social issues. In short, the regulation requires certain companies in the financial markets to consider sustainability and inform investors whether and how such factors are taken into account when making investment decisions. Various companies may need to review their operating methods and internal processes so that they can meet the disclosure obligation.

Further information can be found in an article by Helga Melkorka Óttarsdóttir and Arnar Sveinn Harðarson, titled The fight against green information chaos in financial markets (in Icelandic).

Green bonds

The new EU standard for green bonds is part of the EU’s efforts to finance the EU’s carbon neutrality by 2050. The standard will be the first of its kind within the EU acquis but is based in part on the principles of the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) on Green Bond Principles. The EU standard is in many respects similar to the ICMA principles but, goes further in the requirements for issuers. The standard is not binding, and bond issuers are free to use it. On the other hand, a financial product may not be called a European Green Bond unless it meets the requirements of the standard.

Further information can be found in an article by Helga Melkorka Óttarsdóttir and Arnar Sveinn Harðarson, titled Standardization of green bonds (in Icelandic).

Sustainable governance

The concept of sustainable corporate governance involves giving managers the tools to focus on the long-term healthy development of companies, instead of constantly having to return as much short-term profit as possible, which can have a negative internal effect on the company in question, as well as the negative external impact on the environment and society. The EU has put forward some progressive proposals in the field of sustainable governance.

Further information can be found in an article by Helga Melkorka Óttarsdóttir and Arnar Sveinn Harðarson, entitled Sustainability and profit maximization (in Icelandic).