Almudena de la Mata joins the EIB Group’s Women Climate Leaders Network to drive climate action

On 8 February, the European Investment Bank Group (EIB Group), composed of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF), launched the Women Climate Leaders Network to address the urgent challenge of advancing the green transition and building climate resilience. Our CEO, Almudena de la Mata, was invited to this event as a woman leader from the private sector and part of the network.

The Women Climate Leaders Network brings together 47 prominent women leaders from the private sector in the 27 EU Member States to accelerate action on climate change. At its first meeting, 40 members of the network met for two days at the EIB Group’s headquarters in Luxembourg.

The importance of women’s leadership in developing and implementing climate solutions is widely recognised. Despite the fact that many countries integrate gender equality into their national climate action plans, the number of women business leaders in this field remains limited. However, EIB research shows that women-led businesses score higher on environmental, climate, social and governance issues.

To achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and keep global warming at a safe level, the participation of more women in leadership roles is needed. The Women Climate Leaders Network aims to provide this strong, high-level participation. Its members will share knowledge and best practices to accelerate climate action, work on new business models and ways to enable a green, low-carbon transformation.

The network is chaired by EIB Secretary General Barbara Balke, EIF Executive Director Marjut Falkstedt and EIB Projects Directorate General Laura Piovesan. EIB President Nadia Calviño was also present at the launch event and offered her full support to the group.

We are excited to be part of this network and to contribute to accelerating climate action in Europe and beyond.