On November 16, 2024, the AEB organized its first-ever round table titled "Russia on its Path Towards Sustainability: Looking for Synergies between International and Russian Businesses" at the UN Climate Change Conference COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. 

Moderated by Tadzio Schilling, CEO of AEB, and co-moderated by Roman Ishmukhametov, Senior Associate at Melling, Voitishkin & Partners, the event brought together key stakeholders to explore whether there is space for cooperation and interaction between Russian and foreign businesses in the current conditions to achieve the goals of sustainable development. 

Among speakers Boris Titov, Special Envoy of the Russian President for relations with International Organizations for the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, Andrey Sharonov, General Director, ESG Alliance, as well as representatives of the SKOLKOVO School of Management, AEB members AstraZeneca and CentrInvest Bank and other companies took part in the discussion. 

An important outcome of the discussion was the conclusion that, despite the existing challenges in the geopolitical landscape and some reduction in international cooperation, many channels for dialogue on sustainable development issues remain open, particularly through platforms like BRICS and in sectors less affected by sanctions. The AEB also remains open and committed to fostering discussions that facilitate synergies between national regulator and foreign businesses in pursuit of sustainability goals. 

On November 21, 2024, at the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP29), as part of the Climate Policy Day of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, Tadzio Schilling, AEB CEO, moderated the panel session “Sustainable Development in the coming years: Institutions and Incentives” organized by the AEB jointly with the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI). 

The speakers of the session were Irina Filippova, Deputy Director of the Corporate Regulation Department, Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, Elizaveta Danilova, Member of the Board of Directors, Director of the Financial Stability Department, Bank of Russia, as well as representatives of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, ANO "Public Capital", RUSAL, ALROSA, Sberbank and others. 

In the context of the session, participants discussed current and planned approaches to forming incentive systems that will promote sustainable development at the international, national, and regional levels, as well as the harmonization of existing reporting standards and evaluation of business projects in the field of sustainable development. Additionally, they discussed government support measures, legislative initiatives in the banking sector, and examples of successful practices in sustainable development. 

Special attention was given to the application of the business social capital standard developed by ASI and presented by Asiyat Bagatyrova, General Director of the Autonomous Non-Profit Organization "Public Capital.