From EU Deforestation regulation to Nature Positive incl. TNFD

Nowadays, it's almost impossible to open a newspaper without encountering an article on 'sustainability'. Whether it's in the context of the financial services industry, the broader economy, or society as a whole, sustainability has become a critical issue. In recent years, it has gained significant traction and is now recognised as a necessity rather than just a trend.

This training focuses on the concept of Nature Positive, which refers to actions taken by businesses and organisations to leave a positive impact on biodiversity, ecosystems, and natural resources. Participants will understand what it means to move beyond "doing no harm" towards creating a net-positive impact on nature, contributing to the preservation and restoration of natural capital. This training covers key strategies, practical approaches, and frameworks to help organisations embrace nature-positive practices as a core part of their sustainability initiatives.

A dedicated section of the training will focus on the implications of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and main requirements as well as the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) standards.

By the end of this training, participants will:

• understand the main requirements of the EU Deforestation regulation and associated challenges and the TNFD requirements;
• understand the concept of being "Nature Positive" and its significance in sustainability;
• learn about the relationship between business activities and biodiversity impacts;
• gain knowledge of global nature-related commitments, such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity framework;
• identify actionable steps to promote and implement nature-positive practices within their organisations;
• understand the role of businesses in preserving and enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem services.

• Overview of EU Deforestation regulation and TNFD requirements
  • In scope entities
  • Main requirements
  • Due diligence considerations
• Introduction to nature positive
  • Definition and key principles of nature positive
  • Overview of the current state of biodiversity and natural ecosystems.
  • Global commitments, such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
• Business impacts on nature
  • Understanding how business activities impact biodiversity and ecosystem health.
  • Identifying the drivers of biodiversity loss: pollution, deforestation, land use change, and more.
• Nature Positive strategies for business
  • Key strategies for companies to transition towards a nature-positive approach.
  • Integration of nature-positive objectives into business decision-making and supply chain management.
  • Incorporating biodiversity considerations in risk assessments and corporate strategy.
• Practical steps to implement nature positive actions
  • Actionable guidance on how to assess and reduce biodiversity impacts.
  • Case studies of businesses that have successfully embraced nature-positive practices.
  • Tools for monitoring and measuring biodiversity impacts and progress towards nature-positive targets.
• Engaging stakeholders for a nature positive future
  • How to effectively engage stakeholders, including suppliers, customers, and regulators, to promote a nature-positive agenda.
  • Best practices in communicating nature-positive initiatives to stakeholders and the broader community.

This training is coordinated by Daniela Cedola, Michael Horvath, Partners and Tsvetelina Blagoeva, Elena Kazmina, Directors at PwC Luxembourg.

• Daniela Cedola is a partner at PwC Consulting Public Sector with over 20 years of experience in project management, leading teams of more than 30 people, and overseeing project delivery, quality, risk control, client orientation, and conflict resolution. She specialises in business acceleration, focusing on SME support, investment readiness, innovation ecosystems, international trade, growth strategy, and entrepreneurship policies. Daniela has worked across various sectors including Public Sector, Education, Energy, and Technology. Notably, she managed major projects such as the BlueInvest platform and the Low Carbon Business Action in Mexico, and directed the EU Gateway programme covering 28 EU Member states and multiple Asian countries. Prior to PwC, she was a Strategy Consultant at Accenture in London, focusing on the Energy industry.
• Michael Horvath is a partner at PwC with extensive expertise in sustainable finance and the asset management industry, including both financial and real assets. Since joining PwC Switzerland in 2011 and PwC Luxembourg in 2018, he has led significant projects in regulatory audit and advisory, focusing on the asset management sector. Michael has played a key role in implementing the EU regulatory framework for sustainable finance, including SFDR, taxonomy regulation, and CSRD, as well as other regulatory initiatives such as DORA, AML/CFT, CSSF circular 18/698, and MICA. He is a certified public accountant in Switzerland and Liechtenstein and has contributed to designing compliance frameworks and operational implementations driven by regulatory changes. His notable client projects include defining target operating models for Luxembourg AIFMs, digital operational resilience planning, AML/CFT framework implementation, and ESG/sustainability process design, supported by his involvement in training and regulatory advisory.
• Elena Kazmina is a director in the regulatory compliance advisory team at PwC Luxembourg with over 10 years of professional experience. She specialises in supporting multilateral development banks, Luxembourg-based credit institutions, investment firms, and management companies in strengthening internal governance, risk management, and compliance with regulatory frameworks such as Basel guidelines, EU regulations, EBA guidelines, and Luxembourg-specific laws. Elena holds certifications from ACCA and GARP in Climate Risk. Her expertise includes Basel III/IV, enterprise risk management, risk appetite frameworks, regulatory reporting, and credit rating methodologies. She has led strategic capital optimisation, risk appetite enhancement, financial product assessments, IFRS 9 audits, and M&A due diligence projects.
• Tsvetelina Blagoeva is a director at PwC Luxembourg with over 12 years of experience in public sector consulting for EU and international institutions, specialising in policy advisory and technical assistance focused on public investment in sustainability and innovation. She has more than a decade of expertise in project and Framework Contract Management, overseeing frameworks for the European Commission, European Investment Bank, and EU Agencies. Tsvetelina holds an MSc in International Law, Economics and Management from the University of Copenhagen and a BSc in Economics and Business from the University of Amsterdam. Her leadership includes directing and managing multidisciplinary teams on major projects such as the Skills & Education Advisory Programme and the European Green Digital Coalition, with roles spanning project direction, quality assurance, and capacity building.