Sustainable Finance - Operational Aspects: Advanced

This advanced course is part of a 3-module programme:

1. Sustainable Finance: Operational Aspects (this course) - supported by Forethix
2. Sustainable Finance: The Case of Green, Social and Sustainability Bond and ESG Funds (advanced) 
3. Sustainable Finance: Regulatory aspects

The module Sustainable Finance: Operational aspects is provided by Forethix Academy

Unit 1

Introduction: Key concepts are necessary in order to embrace advanced new notions related to sustainable development.  (1,5 hours)

• Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and their consequence on climate change

• Climate change scenario and models

Normative context in Sustainable Finance (2 hours)

Description: Learn about framework developers, standard setters, coalitions and initiatives providing research, standards, norms and practical tools for Sustainable Finance.

Objective: Be able to select the best norms or standards to support your Sustainable Finance strategies in line with the ambitions set.

Programme : 

• Framework developers: UN Global Compact, Sustainable Development Goals, TCFD, ...
• Standard setters: GRI, SASB, ISO, ...
• Coalitions and initiatives: IPCC, IFC, 2° initiative, UNEP-Finance Initiative,...

Unit 2 - Sustainable Finance labelling (2,5 hours)

Description: Learn about European sustainability labelling agencies & understand their methodologies for assessing the eligibility of a financial product to their label.

Objective: Be able to understand the assessment methodology of major European labels in sustainable finance and prepare for a labelling process.

Programme :

• Comparative analysis of existing labels in Sustainable Finance in Europe
• EU Ecolabel for financial products
• Process to obtain a label: requirement, timeline, cost, due diligence framework, validity & reviewal process. With the intervention of LuxFLAG.

Unit 3 - Sustainable Finance Data (2 hours)

Description: Learn about the sources of data for sustainable finance and understand the assessment approach of major providers. Take a look into the methodologies of major ESG indices, ESG rating agencies, specialised data providers, how they can be used and interpreted.

Programme: 

• Key concepts and market demand
• Investment strategies relying on ESG data 
• Typical rating methodology 
• Upcoming regulation
• ESG rating process (Sustainalytics, CDP, MSCI...)
• Case studies

Unit 4 - ESG transparency & reporting (3 hours)

Description: Understand the principles of extra-financial reporting on both sides: ESG reporting for investors and non-financial reporting for corporations.

Objective: Learn to read and interpret sustainability information from an extra-financial report.

Programme: 

• Key reporting principles (materiality, double-materiality, comparability, boundaries, engagement...)
• Metrics
• Reporting frameworks illustrated by case studies (investors reporting, transparent policies, sustainability risk reporting, impact report, engagement/proxy voting report, corporate responsibility reports,...)
• 10 steps to successfully prepare your report

Unit 5 - Collaborative case study (1 hour)

Description: Summarise your knowledge from Modules 1-4 playing the role of investor, lender, corporation or assessor. 

Objective: Based on real-case examples, put in practice various operational aspects of Sustainable Finance.

Programme:

• Preliminary reading and assignment will be provided to you at the end of Unit 4
• Schedule in your own time a 1-hour individual working session in preparation of Unit 5
• Consolidation of results, observation and feedback session with the group will take place during Unit 5

All professionals working in bank, asset management, insurance companies and other financial institutions who need to capture knowledge & best practices on sustainable finance.

 At the end of the training, a certificate of attendance will be available either on your client account or on demand to the customer service.