Sustainable finance degree programme
As sustainability becomes more important, finance is adapting. Specialised professionals are increasingly in demand. With the right programme, you can build a meaningful career.
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.
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.
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 5th best in the world (2022).
Our MSc in Climate Change & Sustainable Finance is offered in cooperation with Mines Paris - PSL, one of the most renowned engineering schools in France.
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