The event was held on 12 October 2023 at the Buda Centre of the Magyar Nemzeti Bank.
Hungary's
energy use is a priority for both economic and climate protection reasons. Less
wasteful, more efficient energy consumption can reduce our country's dependence
on energy imports, increase the competitiveness of our companies and improve
our economy's external accounts. Reduced energy demand also means less energy
is produced from fossil fuels, which in turn leads to lower CO2 and other harmful
emissions.
Both
developments are important for the Magyar Nemzeti Bank, as in addition to
ensuring price and financial stability, the central bank's mandate includes
supporting the government's sustainability objectives. To discuss the potential
of energy efficiency, the MNB is organising an Energy Efficiency Conference, to
which you and your colleagues are kindly invited.
What was on the agenda?
The morning session of the conference aimed to provide an overview of the key role of energy efficiency in international climate protection efforts, the rise of the topic in the energy sector over the past year, and the resulting tightening of EU energy efficiency rules. The event also featured an international study focusing specifically on Hungary, examining the link between energy efficiency and the fight against energy poverty. During the afternoon, the macro-economic impact of energy efficiency was discussed and the audience was able to learn about the programmes planned by the Hungarian government and the largest local governments. The energy efficiency of companies and the energy efficiency of residential buildings were the subject of separate panel discussions. During the lunch break of the meeting, the Green Finance Awards were presented to the financial institutions that have excelled in the field of sustainability in 2023.