EIB's Women Climate Leaders Network turns vision into market action

Women climate leaders from all 27 EU member states convened this week at the EIB Group Forum 2026, putting private-sector-led climate action firmly on the agenda, as reported in an official statement published by the European Investment Bank (EIB). The gathering brought together the Women Climate Leaders Network — launched by the EIB Group in 2024 to raise the profile of businesswomen driving green innovation across Europe — alongside policymakers, financiers, and civil society representatives. Two years in, the network is moving well beyond networking and into practical, results-oriented territory.

The network was born out of a recognition that women in business were already leading on sustainability — but doing so without enough visibility or cross-sector connection. By creating a dedicated space for exchange between private-sector leaders and EU institutions, the EIB Group set out to turn that untapped potential into measurable climate impact.

EIB Group President Nadia Calviño set the tone at the forum, noting that women are consistently shown to be more attuned to climate issues and that “when we stand together, we are truly unstoppable.” European Commissioner for Environment Jessika Roswall added a sobering economic dimension, pointing out that seven out of ten companies in Europe are critically dependent on nature — making climate and environmental action not just a moral choice, but a hard-nosed investment in economic resilience and jobs. Network co-chair and EIB Secretary General Barbara Balke described the space as one built for “meaningful ways to work and advance together on this green journey,” while co-chair Laura Piovesan emphasized that members are “actively working with us to come up with market solutions.”

The 2026 meeting covered EU sustainable finance policy updates, the potential of tokenization to unlock new green investment streams, and discussions on water, the circular economy, and the blue economy. In 2025, to mark its first anniversary, the network published five actionable recommendations to help small and mid-sized businesses scale green investment and innovation — a paper that has since shaped ongoing dialogue with partners in Brussels.

The Women Climate Leaders Network is still young, but it is already punching above its weight. By bridging private-sector expertise with EU policy processes and public finance instruments, it is carving out a distinctive role in Europe’s green transition — one where women are not just participants, but the ones setting the direction.