At the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group Forum 2025 in Luxembourg, the Women Climate Leaders Network (WCLN) celebrated its first anniversary. Founded in 2024 by the EIB Group, WCLN has made remarkable strides in advancing green innovation and supporting businesses as they transition to more sustainable practices. Prof. Phoebe Koundouri feels truly privileged to collaborate with 47 inspiring women climate leaders across the EU, all united in their mission to accelerate the green transition. The event was opened by Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Clean, Just, and Competitive Transition, and European Commissioner for Competitiveness, a long-time collaborator.
As a member of the working group focused on Greening SMEs and Green Innovation, Prof. Koundouri and her team developed a paper outlining strategies to accelerate green investment for SMEs and innovation from both policy and finance perspectives. The paper highlights AE4RIA Metrix and AE4RIA AI Skills, two tools developed by the AE4RIA team—the Alliance of Excellence for Research and Innovation on Aephoria—designed to support sustainable transformation in the private sector.
AE4RIA Metrix helps companies integrate ESG reporting in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a three-step framework: value chain mapping, materiality assessment, and KPI development at the generic, sector-specific, and unit-specific levels. It also supports businesses in setting sustainability targets for 2030 and 2050, aligning with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and key ESG reporting standards, such as GRI, SASB, IIRC, and CDP.
AE4RIA AI Skills is an AI-powered tool that assists decision-makers in navigating sustainability-related workforce needs. It connects policies like the EU Green Deal to job roles using AI and natural language processing (NLP), transforming unstructured data into actionable insights. The tool also maps educational programs to industry skill needs for effective upskilling and reskilling, and links EUROPASS CVs with job requirements to improve hiring and workforce planning.
Key recommendations from the working group include:
- Providing tailored financing to help SMEs overcome barriers to green investments.
- Creating local networks for businesses to exchange best practices.
- Streamlining green project management and reporting for companies.
- Highlighting financial incentives tied to sustainability.
- Advocating for tax incentives and regulatory changes to accelerate green innovation.
In her interventions, Prof. Koundouri emphasized the importance of science-based quantification of sustainable transformations in markets that are both profitable and resilient. The tools developed by the AE4RIA team offer robust guidance for sustainable transition pathways amid risk and uncertainty.
You can read the full paper and learn more about the work of WCLN here: https://www.eib.org/en/press/news/women-climate-leaders-network-marks-first-anniversary-with-insights-to-accelerate-green-investment-activities
