How can we successfully level the political playing field and bring in the voices of civil society, including those of small countries? How can we ensure that finance benefits citizens and works to repair the planet?

"We only have our voice, but with that voice, if you talk about important things, and if you commit to what you say and what you do, your voice becomes a real weapon to achieve your goals."

Kęstutis Kupšys is a Member of the European Economic and Social Committee and a key expert on sustainable finance issues. He explains how he has learned to embrace climate change as an opportunity to transform the economic system we live in. He describes the functioning of the European Economic and Social Committee, an advisory body that informs the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council. Kęstutis expands on the power of finance for the future of the planet and how, today, cryptocurrencies are undermining climate goals.

Finally, he tells us how coming from a small country, Lithuania, is rather an asset when it comes to building consensus, and bridging widely divergent interests.

"The Economic and Social Committee is one of those forums where you can make your voice heard, even if you come from a small country, a small organisation or if you represent a specific group of people with specific problems".

"We no longer have the luxury of choosing what should be sustainable and what should remain business as usual, the whole system has to be changed."

Kęstutis Kupšys is a Member of the European Economic and Social Committee (Group III - Diversity Europe Group), the vice-president of the Lithuanian consumer alliance (member of BEUC) and the director of the Association for Honesty in banking. In his own words, Kęstutis is a sustainable finance, clean mobility and renewable energy enthusiast devoted to unified Europe.

Contact Kęstutis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kestutis-kupsys/

Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinecornelis
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory (c)

Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic

Next Energy Consumer, 2021

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.