Sustainability finance course programme

Sustainable finance is an important topic in the financial world. Stakeholders and consumers are growing more and more concerned about environmental and social issues. Consumers are less likely to buy from a business that is known for its poor environmental or even human rights record. Companies can no longer ignore the impact of their activities. Specialised professionals are now dedicated to making the best investment decisions and protecting their company's reputation. ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) is now an important part of daily business activities.

A sustainable finance programme will give you all the skills you need to start working in this sector.

MSc in Climate Change & Sustainable Finance

The importance of sustainable finance

Sustainable development is no longer an option. Companies must adapt and change the way they operate, and finance departments have an important role to play. As one of their responsibilities is to manage the company's investments, they have a major influence on sustainability policy.

Sustainable finance is the practice of selecting investments based on their social and environmental impact.

For example, a company that needs to deliver its products to its distributors may choose to buy electric vehicles. A company may choose not to source its raw materials from suppliers with a reputation for human exploitation. There are many ways in which a company can invest to reduce its impact. Climate change, diversity, biodiversity, waste management, clean air...

It's not just about attracting customers, it's also about attracting investors, who are increasingly concerned about sustainability and don't want to be associated with companies with a bad reputation.

As businesses invest more and more in sustainable finance, they need skilled professionals.

If you want to work in finance and specialise in a promising sector, this is one of the best choices. While sustainability is often seen as the bare minimum for investment, assessing it requires advanced skills in the field. Choosing a sustainable finance programme will also make your future job more meaningful. Not only will you be working in an exciting sector, but you will also be making a positive impact on the world.

If you care about the environment and social issues, this is the perfect choice!

The future of sustainable finance

Sustainable finance is a developing sector and, as consumers and potential investors become more aware of environmental and social issues, many factors are becoming more influential.

For example, governments are implementing laws to reduce carbon emissions and reduce the overall impact of human activities on the environment. Companies need to comply, and sustainable finance professionals will be key players in adapting to the legislation.

Sustainable finance will continue to grow in importance with the rise of green bonds, loans that are dedicated solely for environmental projects. Risk analysts will also need to pay special attention to climate change. In the future, extreme weather events will become stronger and more frequent, threatening companies' interests. This is an important factor to consider when investing.

Social justice and equality are also an important part of sustainable finance and, as with environmental protection, consumers and stakeholders will take this into account in their decisions. Ensuring a high diversity in the board of directors, working to improve working conditions, and actively fighting racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia and all forms of discrimination will be strategic choices for economic success, but also for building a better society.

Career prospects after obtaining a degree in sustainable finance

Taking financial management courses and gaining a recognised degree is the best way to access many job opportunities, with responsibilities and a positive impact on the world. As companies adapt to sustainability and seek to reduce their impact and become more socially equitable in their management, they will need specialised professionals.

You can work in a finance department, making recommendations to the top management of your company.

Financial institutions, governments and even international organisations are also looking for skilled professionals to help them steer change and help them move towards more sustainable management. You can also find opportunities in NGOs. You can have access to a wide range of positions and even leadership roles. For example:

- You can lead a team of ESG analysts or act as an advisor to a government agency. There is also the possibility to have a role of monitoring the compliance with environmental legislation.

- In all cases, you will develop new solutions to address some of the world’s most pressing issues.

- You will assess investment opportunities and identify which should be avoided and which will have a positive impact.

Here are some of the careers you can choose after a sustainable finance programme:

ESG Analyst
Energy Project Manager
Climate Risk Manager
Corporate and Investment Analyst
Cleantech VC Analyst
Corporate Sustainability Officer
Energy Policy Analyst

What skills will you gain from studying sustainable finance?

A programme in sustainable finance is the best way to gain the skills required to work in the sector. Sustainability is a broad subject and incorporating it into finance requires many skills. First of all, you need to have advanced finance skills, with a strong focus on the environment, such as climate change economics, designing feasible low-carbon transitions, financing cleantech startups…

Social justice is another important topic in sustainable finance and it is also very broad, with many issues that need to be addressed. A specialised programme will have courses dedicated to management, with a focus on diversity. Cross-cultural management will be taught, as will ethics in finance.

A sustainable finance programme is a complete curriculum that gives you all-encompassing knowledge and practical skills to lead change in your future career.

Why should you pursue a degree in sustainable finance at EDHEC Business School?

For our school, sustainability is more than an educational programme. We have a real commitment to it, and since 2015 we have been part of PRME – Principles for Responsible Management Education. Our sustainability policy is based on three key pillars: campuses, courses and research. If your goal is to start an international career in sustainable finance, EDHEC Business School is the right school for you.

MINES Paris - PSL and EDHEC have created a new programme, a new master's programme which is called Climate Change and Sustainable Finance. In this collaboration between EDHEC and MINES Paris, we have two top-ranking schools. One specialised in finance, the top-ranked finance school, and one top-ranked engineering school. So it was natural
to make this kind of association. It is important to establish a good curriculum to provide some basis about engineering in accordance
with energy systems, for example. Because energy is the aim of climate change for three-quarters of emissions. And so, they have to
master the basis of physics. It is one part of the curriculum. And after that, they have...

They must have a lot of knowledge of all the energy chain and all the actual technology and all the future technology. And it is on this basis that we establish the curriculum, beginning with the basics of physics in an energy chain, and thereafter we want them to have a very long-term perspective. And so we had some modules dedicated to prospective studies. We have some specific courses on energy chain for production and, of course, to master what is the life of a system, what we call the life cycle assessment of the system, to be sure that when we are designing a new system it’s designed in a good way, with the lowest impact on the environment. Sustainable finance is a broad concept that embeds environmental finance, and it touches on the notions
of how we, as investors can have a positive impact on society through our investments. The demand comes from all stakeholders, from international finance institutions, institutional investors, banks, asset managers to NGO, consulting firms, corporations. The range of jobs offered is quite broad. It can be a sustainable investor in a bank or in a management company. Sustainable economists at the IMF, the World Bank, or a central bank or a sustainable analyst in a consulting company or an NGO.

The students work on a wide variety of projects for example, sustainable agriculture, carbon capture and storage, circular economy, how finance can have an impact on biodiversity, or how you can embed climate measures, climate metrics into traditional risk metrics.

The students work on that project with an institution and they are evaluated on the solution they can offer to the institution. And the solution is often
theoretical and empirical. So you have to design a solution and apply this solution. Of course, I wish my students happiness and fulfilment in their professional careers. I hope that the skills that they will have
acquired in the MSc will help them be key players in the transition,
and participate in the transformation of business models to be consistent
with the objective of sobriety that we have to achieve.

Our expertise in finance is recognised around the world, as evidenced by the Financial Times, which ranks EDHEC Business School’s Master in Management as the 4th best in the world (Financial Times 2024). Additionally, EDHEC’s Master’s in Finance is ranked 6th worldwide (FT 2024), reaffirming our position as a leader in financial education and innovation.

Our MSc in Climate Change & Sustainable Finance is offered in cooperation with Mines Paris - PSL, one of the most renowned engineering schools in France.

MSc in Climate Change & Sustainable Finance

FAQs about sustainable finance

Sustainable finance means taking into account environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues when making investment decisions in the financial sector.

Finance plays an important role in businesses. They have a strategic role and a strong influence on what a company can do or not. They also provide information to guide decision makers. With this influence, financial experts can be leaders of change in their organisations.
In sustainable finance, there are many actions that can be taken to address ESG issues:

Choosing low-carbon energy sources (such as solar panels)
Improving transparency and accountability
Limiting environmental risks
Promoting gender equality in the workplace

Financial sustainability is an organisation’s ability to manage resources responsibly while ensuring long-term economic, social, and environmental goals are met. It involves balancing revenue generation, cost management, and risk mitigation with ethical and sustainable practices.

To pursue a career in sustainable finance, obtaining a relevant educational background is essential. Enrolling in specialised programmes, such as the MSc in Climate Change & Sustainable Finance offered by EDHEC Business School in partnership with Mines Paris - PSL, provides comprehensive knowledge in both finance and climate science. This programme equips students with the skills to lead the transition to a low-carbon economy by combining financial expertise with an understanding of the scientific and engineering challenges associated with climate change.

Gaining practical experience through internships or roles focused on ESG analysis, sustainable investment strategies, or corporate sustainability initiatives further enhances one's expertise. Staying informed about evolving regulations, market trends, and best practices in sustainable finance is also crucial for success in this field.

By combining formal education with hands-on experience, professionals can effectively contribute to the growing demand for sustainable finance expertise, driving positive change within the financial industry and beyond.

Certifications in sustainable finance help bachelor’s graduates develop specialised skills and gain a competitive edge in their careers. EDHEC Business School, in partnership with Mines Paris - PSL, offers the MSc in Climate Change & Sustainable Finance, a programme combining advanced finance expertise with climate science knowledge. This degree prepares students to tackle the challenges of transitioning to a low-carbon economy.

Additionally, EDHEC’s MSc programme partners with the GARP Sustainable and Climate Risk (SCR) Certification. This certification covers essential topics such as climate science, sustainability policies, financial risk management, and scenario analysis. By earning the SCR certification, students showcase their ability to align finance with global sustainability goals and climate initiatives.

These certifications provide valuable insights into ESG analysis, ethical investing, and managing climate-related financial risks, making them an excellent choice for graduates aiming to pursue a career in sustainable finance.

The MSc in Climate Change & Sustainable Finance offers a hands-on approach to help you acquire hard skills through practice.

You will complete a Master’s project dedicated to sustainable finance. It is a great opportunity to apply what you just learned. The programme also includes a 4-6 month internship that you can do abroad. This is a valuable opportunity to learn your future job. You may even be hired by the company in which you did your internship. Business games and case studies will complete the programme.

These practical experiences will give you the opportunity to take part in research and projects related to sustainability during your studies.

Not entirely. While sustainable finance and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) are closely related, they are not identical. Sustainable finance involves making financial decisions that incorporate ESG factors to ensure long-term benefits for both society and the environment. ESG is a framework that evaluates companies based on their environmental impact, social responsibility, and governance practices, forming a subset of sustainable finance.

The average salary in sustainable finance depends on the role and location. For entry-level positions like ESG analysts, salaries typically range from €45,000 to €55,000 per year. Mid-level roles, such as Sustainability Consultants, may earn between €60,000 and €80,000 annually. Senior roles, including Climate Risk Managers or Sustainable Investment Portfolio Managers, can exceed €100,000, depending on experience and company size.