Last Monday, the second day of the 2nd Annual Conference of NOVA Green Lab centered on showcasing the outcomes of the “E of ESG” Project, a flagship initiative of the NOVA Green Lab. The focus of the day was on the members’ presentations of their essays for the NOVA Green Lab Book 2024-2025: ‘E of ESG: Legal Insights and Research on Sustainability Reporting’, which are central to advancing the understanding of environmental sustainability within the framework of EU competitiveness.
The relevance of these essays lies in their direct connection between sustainability and economic growth and innovation in the European Union, particularly as new regulatory measures such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) continue to shape business practices across Europe.
Key Presentations
Throughout the day, NOVA Green Lab members presented their essays on various topics related to the “E of ESG” Project, sorted into three pillars, namely ESG and the Environment, ESG and Energy, and ESG and Governance. The diversity of the topics showcased the wide range of issues tied to environmental , social and economic sustainability and its impact on both business and policy. Presenters discussed a variety of approaches aimed at demystifying ESG and relevant EU instruments and offered critical analysis in how this could significantly impact EU competitiveness.
The essays presented were the following:
- Navigating ESG Landscapes in Europe: Impact of the CSRD on Environmental Racism Amid Rising Climate Litigation – Mariana Rodrigues Viana, Research Associate in Ph.D Programme
- Ensuring Integrity in Carbon Offsetting: The Influence of the CSRD – Ana Bertazzo Lemos, Research Associate in Master Programme
- The Cost of Innovation: Environmental Impact and Regulatory Landscape in Europe of AI – Catarina Rocha, Research Associate in Master Programme
- Estudo de caso: Injeção de Biometano na Rede de Gás existente em Portugal pela Dourogás – Yan Lima, Research Assistant in Undergraduate Programme
- Corporate Ethics and Lobbying in the European Union: Promoting Transparency through ESG Criteria – Catarina Medonca, Research Associate in Master Programme
- O Regime Geral da Prevenção da Corrupção à luz da CSRD e ESRS – Rickson Neves, Research Associate in Master Programme
Acknowledgements and Gratitude
A heartfelt thank you, once again, to Abreu Advogados for graciously hosting us and providing such an inspiring space for collaboration. Your support made this event possible and truly special.
We also want to express our sincere appreciation to all the speakers who shared their innovative ideas and valuable insights. Your contributions were key to the success of the event, and we are excited to see how your work will continue to shape sustainability in the EU and beyond.
Lastly, a warm welcome to the new members of NOVA Green Lab. We’re thrilled to have you on board as we embark on this journey to drive positive change in the future of sustainability.
Thank you again to everyone who joined us — your presence and engagement are what made this event truly impactful. We can’t wait to see what we’ll achieve together next year!
