Sustainable Finance and Climate Change

online course

This online course introduces students to the role of finance in the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy. Mitigating and adapting to climate change while simultaneously realising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires the deployment of large amounts of capital – capital which isn’t currently provided in sufficient amounts. Moreover, climate change poses significant risk to economies and financial systems alike. At the same time, there are substantial opportunities in financing the green transformation and in aligning investments and finance with environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria.

The course enables students to understand and apply key concepts in climate and sustainable finance, the role of climate and other environmental risks in creating potential financial risks in banking and capital markets, and the role of financial actors in driving a global transition and aligning capital markets with climate and sustainability goals.

The course will draw on examples and case studies from various countries of the Global North and South and different thematic areas including ESG standards, green bond markets, long-term sustainability risk assessment, the role of central banks and financial supervisory authorities, and climate accounting principles. The course will help students build the skills necessary to work and conduct research in a cutting-edge area of finance that is increasingly becoming an important topic for financial institutions and financial authorities around the world.

Course leader

Dr. Ulrich Volz, Dr. Harald Heubaum

Target group

You will have completed one year of undergraduate study at the time of joining the Academic Summer School. Professional experience can be acknowledged as equivalent to a university qualification.

Course aim

On successful completion of the course, a student should be able to demonstrate the ability to:

- Have an in-depth understanding of economic concepts and principles in climate and sustainable finance;
- Understand and explain the gaps in global climate and sustainable finance and propose solutions to meet the funding challenge;
- Explain the role of different actors in climate and sustainable finance, including central banks, financial supervisory authorities, national and multilateral development banks, corporate banks, and institutional investors;
- Understand and analyse the potential risks and opportunities of environmental trends for financial markets, with a particular emphasis on climate risks;
- Explain the range of financial policy instruments and initiatives and their potential with regard to integrating climate change and sustainability into financial policy and supervisory frameworks.

Credits info

15 EC
Courses are worth 15 SOAS credits, which is equivalent to 4 credits in the US system and 7.5 ECTS in the European system. If you intend to transfer credit to your home institution, please check the requirements with them before you apply. We will be happy to assist you in any way we can, however please be aware that the decision to transfer credit rests with your home institution.

Fee info

GBP 1200: - Save £200 if you apply by 30th April
- 10% discount if you apply for two courses over 6 weeks
- 15% discount for SOAS alumni (including Academic Summer School alumni)
- 20% discount for our partner institutions

Other discounts are available for groups, please contact us for further information.

Scholarships

The SOAS Academic Summer School is delighted to offer six tuition-fee waiver scholarships to passionate students with a desire to make a difference in the world.

Deadline: 13th March 2020