Net Zero and Climate Finance

Understanding ESG and Environmental Issues

• This climate finance training begins by looking at the global trends in ESG
• Key concepts of Sustainable Finance and related initiatives
• What is ESG?
• Global market for sustainability and finance
• Key drivers
• Environmental megatrends
• Multilateral agreements
• United Nations Sustainable Development GoalsParis Agreement
• COPs
• NDC
• Other agreements

Understanding Climate Risks for Corporates and Financial Institutions

• The systemic relationships between investee companies’ activities and environmental issues:
  • Materiality and double materiality
• Impact and dependence of business on natural resources
• The systemic impact of climate risks on the financial system
• Climate risk
• Transition risks:
  • Modelling transition risk
• Physical risks
• Opportunities for financial institutions
• Exercises

Understanding the Data

• This climate finance course looks at identifying ESG materiality
• Financial materiality
• Impact materiality
• Main sustainability reporting and disclosure frameworks
• Data type
• Data sources and providers
• Data availability across different asset classes and regions
• Challenges and considerations for effective identification and use of data
• Greenwashing

Integrating the Results and Putting it All Together

• Regulation and industry initiatives
• TCFD, TNFD, CSRD, European taxonomy, SFDR, MiFID II and Basel principles: understanding regulations and financial sector requirements
• Building greener products and processes
• Climate finance: drivers and barriers
• Transition sectors
• Circular economy
• Blue economy
• Low carbon market
• Financial institutions and Green financing deals for the low-carbon transition
• Understanding client motivation
• Aligning wealth management and expectations
• Understanding your client

Reporting

Net Zero & Climate Finance Training Final Group Exercise

• Identifying the data, method and analytical tools for the development of green finance products across different types of financial institutions

Redcliffe Training’s net zero and climate finance courses are delivered by a former investment banker and expert on the topics of sustainable and green finance. Most recently, he led the Centre for Sustainable Finance at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), which helps financial institutions play a leading role in building a more sustainable economy. He led work across the finance industry, which includes banks, insurers and investors. Particular focus was on producing cutting-edge research, tools and frameworks that drive change in how institutions work with the wider economy, ensuring they manage risk and grasp new business opportunities.

He also served on the Advisory Panel for GFANZ, offering expertise and support to the finance industry in developing credible net zero transition plans.

This climate finance course is led by an expert with senior leadership experience at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), where he serves on the Executive Committee, shaping strategy and overseeing financial performance. His vital leadership role ensures the effective delivery of sustainability initiatives across the organisation.

With over 20 years in investment banking at Credit Suisse and Dresdner Kleinwort, he has a proven track record in advising global financial institutions on balance sheet structuring, capital raising, and post-crisis regulations. His extensive finance background has given him a deep understanding of the complex financial and regulatory landscape. He applies this expertise to our climate finance online course, developing solutions and strategies to help professionals navigate the intersection of finance and sustainability.

• Key concepts related to environmental issues.
• The systemic impact of climate risks on the financial system and how that relates to asset management and portfolio construction.
• Key environmental risks and how they impact business models.
• How to apply material environmental factors to financial modelling; ratio analysis; risk assessment; and quality of management.
• How to identify sectors and companies that can benefit from opportunities relating to a transition to a low-carbon economy.
• Climate change and how it impacts individuals, corporations and their finances.
• The role financial institutions can play in the transition to a low-carbon society via their products.
• The various approaches to align climate finance and financial products with a low-carbon economy, as well as the methodologies underpinning these approaches.
• The strengths and weaknesses (as well as biases) of these approaches.
• Hold a basic level discussion about the possible contributions of different products and asset classes to a low-carbon economy.

• Climate finance courses at Redcliffe will give you an in-depth understanding of the expectations and practical implications of seeking to become a financial institution that is sustainable and green.
• Focus on actual climate finance products.
• Awareness of the latest climate-related regulatory trends.
• Insight into practical aspects of the implementation of the theory.
• A thorough review of related academic research and its implications surrounding climate finance.
• Perspective based on international experience in climate finance strategy.
• Practical insights on ESG policy at the level of the portfolio and the financial institution.

Addressing the E in ESG has become critical, which is why net zero and climate finance training is imperative. Environmental risks, especially climate change, are already having a significant impact on financial decision-making and the economy as a whole. Furthermore, with investors increasingly pressured to demonstrate that they are steering their capital to a low-carbon economy, how can you make sense of the different types of low-carbon funds, key characteristics, portfolio construction biases and client perception?

This climate finance and net zero course provides an in-depth introduction to climate finance, focusing on the emerging field of sustainable investment—an investment approach designed not only to generate financial returns but also to deliver a measurable positive impact on climate stability and the broader environment.

As global awareness of climate change intensifies, it has become the most widely addressed environmental factor, particularly in policy-making by governments, as well as in business and financial strategies. Governments, multinational corporations, and financial institutions are increasingly prioritising climate action, setting ambitious goals, and aligning their investments with climate resilience and carbon neutrality. However, while climate change remains a key issue, other environmental factors also significantly impact financial performance.

This climate finance course identifies and explains the key environmental factors and external drivers that finance professionals need to consider when assessing ESG risks and opportunities.