Sustainable Finance Forum: on security, responsibility and sustainable finance

Goal 8 - Decent work and economic growth
Goal 9 - Industry, innovation and infractructure
Goal 11 - Sustainable cities and communities
Goal 17 - Partnerships for the goals
21 September 2026

How can growing security and defence needs be reconciled with the principles of sustainable development? This was one of the key questions raised during the Sustainable Finance Forum conference organised by SIF Poland. Erste Bank Polska was a partner of the event.

During the conference, participants discussed, among other topics:

  • the challenges arising from dynamic geopolitical changes,
  • new expectations towards financial institutions and the role of capital in building economic resilience.

Particular attention was devoted to how the financial sector can support strategic investments related to security while maintaining high standards of responsibility, transparency and risk management.

The speakers and panellists included experts from Erste Bank Polska:

  • Clemens Müller, Erste Group Tribe Lead Corporates & Markets, delivered a presentation entitled “Sound finance as the foundation of business resilience”.
  • Katarzyna Ocharska, Director of the ESG Risk Management Office, took part in a panel discussion entitled “From stability to resilience: the role of banks in financing a sustainable economy”.
  • Marcin Groniewski, President of the Management Board of Erste TFI, participated in a panel discussion entitled “Financing the transition from household savings: how to build demand, supply and investment security”.

(C) Jaroslaw Nogal

(C) Jaroslaw Nogal

Report on financing the defence sector

The latest POLSIF report, “Can defence financing be sustainable? Outlining key challenges and examples of good practice”, was launched during the conference. The publication analyses the topic from legal, business, social and environmental perspectives. It also shows how financial institutions and companies can responsibly support the defence sector without compromising fundamental values such as human rights, transparency or ESG standards.

Among the authors of expert comments and opinions included in the report was also a representative of the Management Board of Erste Bank Polska — Lech Gałkowski, who presented the banking sector’s perspective on the role of financing in building security and long-term economic resilience.

Download the report