Climate Finance: Tools and Strategies for a Sustainable Future 2400-ZEWW998
This course delves into the financial mechanisms essential for climate change mitigation and adaptation, offering students both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. It provides an in-depth exploration of the principles, instruments, and institutions driving climate finance, with a focus on global funds, green bonds, carbon markets, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing. Students will engage with cutting-edge digital tools, including Microsoft Excel, Power BI, and AI platforms (such as ChatGPT and Python), to analyze real-world climate finance data, model financial instruments, and develop policy proposals. The course aims to equip students with both the technical expertise and strategic insights required to navigate the growing field of climate finance, ultimately fostering sustainable financial practices and contributing to global climate goals.
1. Lecture topics include the following:
2. The Role of Green Bonds in Financing Climate Change Mitigation Projects
3. Assessing the Financial Risks of Climate Change: Tools for Investors
4. Carbon Pricing: Economic Impacts and Policy Design
5. Financial Implications of the European Green Deal: A Comparative Analysis
6. The Intersection of ESG Investing and Climate Finance
7. AI and Machine Learning in Climate Risk Assessment
8. Impact Investing for Sustainable Development
9. Evaluating the Effectiveness of Climate Finance Flows in selected Countries
10. Renewable Energy Financing: Barriers and Opportunities
11. Sustainable Finance Regulations: Global Standards and Local Adaptation
12. Climate Finance in the Context of Urban Development: Smart Cities and Sustainability
13. The Role of Digital Finance in Scaling Up Climate Investments
14. The Impact of Financial Technology (FinTech) on Climate Finance
15. Transitioning from Fossil Fuels: Financial Strategies for a Low-Carbon Economy
Type of course
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you should be able to:
1. Equip with the ability to critically appraise theories, Demonstrate an understanding of the key financial instruments and mechanisms in climate finance.
2. Build and interpret financial models for sustainable projects, using tools like Excel and Python.
3. Use digital tools to assess and visualize climate-related risks and investment opportunities.
4. Critically evaluate policy frameworks and investment decisions in the context of global climate goals..
Assessment criteria
Participation: Your participation in class and tutorials (including short in-class quizzes) will determine 25% of your course grade.
Mid-term exam: The in-class mid-term examination will cover all materials from weeks 1 through 6. Expect Multiple Choice Question and statistical application questions to be completed on a computer. This will determine 25% of the course grade.
Final Project Paper (Group Activity):
• Develop a financial model for a renewable energy project using Excel.
• Analyze a green bond issuance using real-world data.
• Use AI to prepare a policy brief summarizing climate risks and their financial implications.
• Build a climate finance dashboard using Power BI to visualize investment flows and risks.
• Group project: Develop a comprehensive climate finance proposal for a chosen country or region.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: