Louise Simon

As Climate & Company’s Lead on EU Policy and Due Diligence, Louise is an expert on EU policymaking and has been focusing on EU regulatory measures for sustainable supply chains and sustainable finance. Based in Brussels, she has been with Climate & Company since 2021.

The issue of policy coherence is a core aspect of her work, where Louise focuses on how to make sustainability measures ambitious but feasible. She has been particularly working on the topic of due diligence and has developed an in-depth understanding of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and their linkages with the Sustainable Finance Regulatory Framework. Louise has been contributing to Climate & Company’s growing portfolio of projects on the role of finance towards deforestation-free supply chains.

Louise holds a Master’s degree in Sustainability Science, Policy and Society and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Business Economics from Maastricht University in the Netherlands. She first joined while conducting research on her master’s thesis on how to green the European Semester.

Latest released papers

Publication

Simplification and Policy Coherence – How to Reap the Benefits of the Omnibus

February 13, 2025 - The goals of the European Green Deal are currently facing the risk of dilution under the EU’s new competitiveness and simplification agenda.The goals of the European Green Deal are currently facing the risk of dilution under the EU’s new competitiveness and simplification agenda. Read the policy brief here: link The president of the European Commission recently announced a so-called Omnibus Simplification Package, expected for February 2025 and aimed at streamlining the reporting requirements of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the EU Taxonomy Regulation and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). While simplification and more coherence of EU legislation is extremely important, it should not come at the expense of Europe’s global sustainability leadership. This policy brief argues that simplification…

Publication

A harmonised EU due diligence framework for the financial sector in the CSDDD: why and how?

November 16, 2023 - This concise 5-pager briefing is based on our longer analysis on why mandatory sustainability due diligence for financial institutions is key to reach the goals of the EU Green Deal.This concise 5-pager briefing is based on our longer analysis on why mandatory sustainability due diligence for financial institutions is key to reach the goals of the EU Green Deal. [dflip id="3192" ][/dflip] Our key points: Financial institutions (FIs) are a partner in enabling the majority of corporate and household investments. Through their investment strategies and their engagement with clients and investee companies, they can have a say in how green or sustainable these investments need to be. FIs also face increasing risks from financing clients or investing in assets with impacts on the environment and exposure to environmental risks,…

Publication

Review of the SFDR – biodiversity & value chains

July 11, 2023 - This policy brief reviews the biodiversity, deforestation and value chain aspects of the Disclosure Delegated Regulation of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), currently being drafted by the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs).This policy brief reviews the biodiversity, deforestation and value chain aspects of the Disclosure Delegated Regulation of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), currently being drafted by the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs). [dflip id="3183" ][/dflip]

Publication

Review of the SFDR – GHG reduction targets

- This policy brief highlights our main messages regarding the review of the Disclosure Delegated Regulation of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), currently being drafted by the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs). This review focuses on the part “Amendments regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets”.This policy brief highlights our main messages regarding the review of the Disclosure Delegated Regulation of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), currently being drafted by the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs). This review focuses on the part “Amendments regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets”. [dflip id="3180" ][/dflip]

Publication

Public Consultation: Feedback on the ESRS Set 1 Delegated Act

July 7, 2023 - This policy brief highlights our main observations and messages regarding the European Commission’s Draft Delegated Act public consultation. This Delegated Act sets out the cross-cutting standards and standards for the disclosure of environmental, social and governance information (ESRS Set 1) of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which requires actors under its scope (large companies and listed companies) to disclose information on their ESG related risks and opportunities, essential to help investors and others stakeholders evaluate the sustainability performance of companies. What's in it? In this publication, we highlight our main observations and messages regarding the European Commission’s Draft Delegated Act public consultation. This Delegated Act sets out the cross-cutting standards and standards for the disclosure of environmental, social and governance information (ESRS Set 1) of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which requires actors under its scope (large companies and listed companies) to disclose information on their ESG related risks and opportunities, essential to help investors and other stakeholders evaluate the sustainability performance of companies. Our observations can be summarised in the following messages: Do not further divide the current…

Publication

The inclusion of financial institutions in mandatory sustainability due diligence

May 22, 2023 - This policy brief sheds light on why mandatory sustainability due diligence for financial institutions is key to reach the goals of the EU Green Deal, while providing a clear and useful framework for financial institutions themselves.This policy brief sheds light on why mandatory sustainability due diligence for financial institutions is key to reach the goals of the EU Green Deal, while providing a clear and useful framework for financial institutions themselves. We identified a concise set of arguments for introducing mandatory sustainability due diligence in the financial sector: Voluntary commitments have not been enough. Financial institutions need a level-playing field. Policy coherence is key for an effective and efficient framework. This policy brief also provides concrete options for improving the CSDDD, ahead of the Trilogue negotiations. These touch upon: The definition of the value chain…

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Sustainability due diligence and reporting obligations for financial institutions in EU policies

December 5, 2022 - An overview of the respective obligations for financial institutions across a core set of EU regulatory measures related to sustainability disclosure and due diligence, drawing on the case of deforestation-related risks and impacts.To date, the financial sector plays a significant role in funding investments that contribute to deforestation. Therefore, financial institutions have a crucial role to play in curbing deforestation and associated land-use change, which are key drivers of climate change and biodiversity loss. With this brief, our team at Climate & Company, together with our partners at Germanwatch, aims to provide for a clear understanding of the obligations to expect for financial institutions under each of the relevant recent EU regulatory measures related to sustainability disclosure and due diligence. The case of deforestation This is done by illustrating the respective obligations…

Publication

Bridging sustainable finance and sustainable land use initiatives to reduce deforestation: An overview of EU and Brazilian legislation

November 28, 2022 - This technical briefing highlights sustainable finance and sustainable land-use regulations in Brazil and the EU and aims to support regulatory cooperation between the two.Supporting regulatory cooperation on anti-deforestation between Brazil and the European Union Land use change contributes to 23% of global emissions and leads to high biodiversity loss. Deforestation is a major threat to both. Sustainable finance is about “shifting the trillions” from unsustainable towards sustainable economic activities. Therefore, cooperation on anti-deforestation regulation between Brazil and the EU needs to be fostered. To illustrate this, in this policy brief we address the following questions: How can the sustainable finance toolbox support transformation in the land-use sector? What are the EU's plans to halt deforestation caused through its supply chains? And what regulations…

Publication

Key actions to safeguard against deforestation in the EU Taxonomy

November 24, 2022 - This paper sets out key actions to better safeguard against deforestation in the EU Taxonomy, building on the key findings of our scrutiny of the Taxo4 report from the EU Platform on Sustainable Finance.This paper sets out key actions to better safeguard against deforestation in the EU Taxonomy, building on the key findings of our scrutiny of the Taxo4 report (Technical screening criteria of the EU Taxonomy's remaining 4 environmental objectives by the EU Platform on Sustainable Finance). Deforestation is an important threat to the EU Taxonomy's environmental objectives, not only as a direct result of certain economic activities (such as agriculture, farming, mining or construction), but also because many sectors and industries are (indirectly) responsible for deforestation through forest-risk commodities in their supply chains. The EU Taxonomy is structured along different economic…

Publication

Options & Challenges to Financing the Coal Transition

April 13, 2022 - These insights aid investors and international entities interested in effective and fiscally feasible donor engagements in SPIPA countries.Our research study investigates what kind of international support can be used to bring about a quicker coal phase-out in member countries of the Strategic Partnership for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement (SPIPA). In the current geopolitical context of the war in Ukraine that is set to impact the world’s energy policies for decades to come, this report carves out the challenges, the policy options, the opportunities for a coal exit and the tools that policymakers need to make an effective energy transition happen. Our research insights primarily aid investors and international entities interested in effective and fiscally feasible…

Publication

Make EU economic governance fit for climate neutrality : time to reform the European Semester

March 17, 2022 - This paper analyses how the EU’s economic surveillance & coordination mechanism can be made a key lever for the green transition in all Member States.Published ahead of our online conference ‘A new Economic Governance for the EU Green Deal?', this paper analyses how the EU’s economic surveillance & coordination mechanism can be made a key lever for the green transition in all Member States. Read the full paper to discover the 5 identified reform proposals to enhance the European Semester and make it fit to deliver the Green Deal targets. If you are interested in this topic, listen to the recording of a panel of key international experts on the 6th of April during our online conference. [dflip id="3095" ][/dflip]

Publication

Comparing National Reform Programmes of the European Semester: Insights

February 21, 2022 - This short briefing gives insights on the importance and the current state of play of (ex-post) economic, fiscal and employment policy evaluation in the context of the European Semester.Released in February 2022, this short briefing gives insights on the importance and the current state of play of (ex-post) economic, fiscal and employment policy evaluation in the context of the European Semester. [dflip id="3092" ][/dflip]

Publication

Policy Brief: The European Semester and why it matters for the EU Green Deal

May 13, 2021 - This policy brief describes the processes of the European Semester and explains why the structure of the Semester should be adjusted and strengthened to support a coordinated shift in economic policies across the EU to deliver the objectives of the European Green Deal.This policy brief describes the processes of the European Semester, which is a framework for the coordination and monitoring of economic policies between and across EU Member States, and explains why the structure of the Semester should be adjusted and strengthened to support a coordinated shift in economic policies across the EU to deliver the objectives of the European Green Deal. [dflip id="3072" ][/dflip]

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Louise Simon

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Latest released papers

Simplification and Policy Coherence – How to Reap the Benefits of the Omnibus

A harmonised EU due diligence framework for the financial sector in the CSDDD: why and how?

Review of the SFDR – biodiversity & value chains

Review of the SFDR – GHG reduction targets

Public Consultation: Feedback on the ESRS Set 1 Delegated Act

The inclusion of financial institutions in mandatory sustainability due diligence

Sustainability due diligence and reporting obligations for financial institutions in EU policies

Bridging sustainable finance and sustainable land use initiatives to reduce deforestation: An overview of EU and Brazilian legislation

Key actions to safeguard against deforestation in the EU Taxonomy

Options & Challenges to Financing the Coal Transition

Make EU economic governance fit for climate neutrality : time to reform the European Semester

Comparing National Reform Programmes of the European Semester: Insights

Policy Brief: The European Semester and why it matters for the EU Green Deal

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