Do No Significant Harm (DNSH)

DNSH is a principle from the EU Taxonomy Regulation (Article 17) stating that an activity must not significantly harm any of six environmental objectives (e.g., climate, biodiversity, circularity) to qualify as "sustainable." Companies must assess and disclose DNSH compliance when claiming green finance or reporting under CSRD. It requires due diligence, credible evidence, and alignment with legal thresholds (like pollution limits or LCA metrics).

Legislation

The EU Taxonomy Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2020/852) establishes a classification system to identify environmentally sustainable economic activities, aiming to direct investments toward the EU's environmental objectives. It defines six environmental objectives: -> Climate change mitigation -> Climate change adaptation -> Sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources -> Transition to a circular economy -> Pollution prevention and control -> Protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems 1/ EU Taxonomy Regulation (EU) 2020/852 is the Regulation that sets the overall framework and objectives for what constitutes "environmentally sustainable" activities in the EU. 2/ The Delegated Acts are the detailed technical regulations that provide the specific criteria and thresholds for various environmental objectives (climate mitigation, water protection, biodiversity, etc.). These Delegated Acts support the implementation of the Taxonomy Regulation. The EU Taxonomy is an essential part of the EU's sustainable finance framework. It serves as a classification system to define environmentally sustainable economic activities based on science-based criteria. Its primary goals are to help investors, companies, and financial institutions identify and finance projects and activities that align with the EU's environmental objectives, such as climate change mitigation and adaptation, circular economy promotion, and biodiversity protection​ The EU Taxonomy is not a mandatory list for investors to invest in. It does not set mandatory requirements on environmental performance for companies or for financial products. Investors are free to choose what to invest in. However, it is expected that over time, the EU Taxonomy will encourage a transition towards sustainability in order to achieve the EU’s climate and environmental goals. The Taxonomy sets performance thresholds (referred to as ‘technical screening criteria’) for economic activities which: -> make a substantive contribution to one of the above six environmental objectives; -> do no significant harm (DNSH) to the other five, where relevant; -> meet minimum safeguards (e.g., OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights) 🔗 European Commission

The Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) is an EU regulation aimed at improving transparency in the financial services sector regarding sustainability risks and impacts. It applies to financial market participants and financial advisers, promoting sustainable investment across the EU. Key Objectives: 1/ Transparency on Sustainability Risks -> Requires financial entities to disclose how they integrate sustainability risks into their investment decision-making or advice processes 2/ Product Categorization -> Article 6: Products that do not actively promote sustainability -> Article 8: Products promoting environmental or social characteristics -> Article 9: Products with sustainable investment as their objective 3/ Standardized Reporting -> Entities must report sustainability-related disclosures on their websites, in pre-contractual documents, and in periodic reports, using templates and data points specified by regulatory technical standards (RTS) 4/ Greenwashing Prevention -> Ensures financial products are marketed transparently to prevent misleading claims about their sustainability Alignment with EU Taxonomy: SFDR aligns with the EU Taxonomy Regulation by requiring additional disclosures about whether and to what extent investments contribute to EU-defined environmental objectives. 🔗 EC, ESMA, ESA

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Inspiration

Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) verification
La Fiorida - Agricultural company
Professional Experience

The intervention concerned the replacement of the roof covering and the implementation of the insulation package, with the objective of increasing the energy efficiency of the tourism sector. The consultancy was carried out at the end of the work for the verification of compliance with environmental requirements and the Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) criterion.

DNSH: e-bike stations, Valtellina (Italy)
Professional Experience

Jamie was involved by the architect to draft the DNSH ("Do No Significant Harm") and Checklist report (construction site and electronic components purchase) for the delivery of the final and executive project. The report included a study of the project’s impacts on the six objectives set out in the Paris Agreement (European Green Deal). The sixobjectives are: climate change mitigation; adaptation to climate change; sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources; circular economy; pollution prevention and reduction; Protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems.

DNSH & CAM Building report for New school gym, Sondrio (Italy)
Professional Experience

Jamie was involved by the architect to draft the DNSH ("Do No Significant Harm") and Checklist report (new construction and site) for the delivery of the executive project and drafting the CAM Building report (Minimum Environmental Criteria). The report included a study of the project’s impacts on the six objectives set out in the Paris Agreement (European Green Deal). The six objectives are: climate change mitigation; adaptation to climate change; sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources; circular economy; pollution prevention and reduction; Protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems.

Jamie Casciotta
Sustainable Building Consultant
Italy, Lecco
Jamie is a freelance civil and environmental engineer working as a sustainability consultant in the construction industry. He specializes in protocols such as BREEAM and LEED, particularly in site management and logistics buildings. Works with designers, construction companies and as a site inspector to verify compliance with environmental criteria. Jamie was born in Brescia, Italy in 1997, obtained his diploma as a surveyor in 2016 and obtained his degree in Building Engineering-Architecture at the Politecnico di Milano in 2021. After graduation he worked on site as a technical employee for a general contractor. He was mainly engaged in the role of Site Sustainability Manager, spending days on site for just over a year on a BREEAM “Very Good” project. At the end of the construction site he decided to take the state examination and enrolled in the Engineers' Register and started his own profession. He approached voluntary protocols, particularly BREEAM. From here the desire to deepen these topics, enrolling in the Master of 2° Level in "Sustainability and energy management of buildings and infrastructures" was born. In 2024 he discussed the thesis entitled "Methods of assessment of the sustainability of logistics buildings: management of the construction site according to the BREEAM and LEED protocols". Accredited as BREEAM AP-Site, LEED Green Associate, WELL AP and LCA Specialist, it helps designers and companies achieve sustainability goals. Continuing education and accreditation ensure a solid knowledge of the construction sector and sustainability.
Petra Fišer
Sustainable Buildings Expert
Slovakia, Bratislava
With 10 years of experience in green building certification and sustainability, I am a dedicated environmental enthusiast committed to creating a greener future. As a Sustainability Consultant, I specialize in LEED and WELL certification, energy modeling, and technical due diligence. As a LEED AP and WELL AP, I honed my skills in energy modeling, MEP design, and HVAC systems. Holding a Master's degree in Environmental Planning and Management from Comenius University of Slovakia together with my Master's degree in Water Constructions and Water Management from Technical University of Slovakia, my passion for sustainability extends to my academic pursuits and internships, where I gained expertise in water resources engineering and pollution management. I am eager to contribute my expertise to innovative sustainability projects worldwide.
Sandrine Ramboux
Strategy/ ESG/Sustainability consultant, CFA Charterholder, GRI Certified, IFRS® Foundation’s FSA Credential®, 20y in Finance
Austria, Wien
Sandrine is results-driven, pragmatic, and focused on turning ideas into action. With a no-nonsense approach, she combines creativity, deep analytical skills, and leadership to tackle complex challenges in finance and sustainability. While highly structured and strategic, she is also an idealist, believing that change is possible when the right people, ideas, and financial structures come together. Her career started in investment banking and corporate finance, where she spent 20 years structuring funding solutions and advising companies on financial strategy. In recent years, she has shifted her focus toward sustainability, applying her expertise to help companies and financial institutions understand how climate risks translate into financial risks, design financing structures that support sustainability goals, and explore innovative funding models such as blended finance. She holds certifications including the GRI Sustainability Professional and IFRS FSA Credential, reinforcing her expertise in sustainability reporting and financial materiality. At every stage of her career, she has been entrusted with building and leading teams from the ground up—defining their strategy, budget, and operational processes, while ensuring that they deliver real impact. Beyond the technical aspects, she is deeply engaged in leadership and knowledge-sharing networks. She actively participates in global networks that challenge her views and broaden her perspective, including the BMW Foundation Responsible Leaders Network, the Global Diplomacy Lab, and the Robert Bosch Foundation Alumni Network. She is also a member of the European Women on Board.
Austria, Vienna
VIRIDAD is a digital, customizable platform for sustainability assessment and sustainability scoring in the EU Taxonomy. Our standardized 4-step approach is effective, efficient and future-proof. For quick answers on complex matters, we connect experts from our expert pool for ad-hoc analyses or third-party verifications.  
Leveraging cutting-edge technology, our digital solution is at the forefront of simplifying the complexity of the EU Taxonomy.
 
It speeds up the evaluation process and helps your business stay ahead of regulatory deadlines while saving you valuable time and resources. Adhering meticulously to the EU Taxonomy regulations, we leave no room for ambiguity, ensuring that your assessments are conducted with precision and in-line with all requirements.

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