Since 2007, UNEP FI has been offering an online course on the climate change risks and opportunities for the finance sector. The course was updated in recent years to include the recommendations of the TCFD and in 2025, UNEP FI has developed a new comprehensive programme designed for sustainability and risk professionals within banks who wish to get a better understanding of climate change and integrate climate risk management into their practice.

The course covers the science behind climate change, introduces transition and physical risks and opportunities, and provides an overview of climate risk reporting frameworks. It delves into the ISSB Standards, the evolution of climate risk reporting from the TCFD framework, and a comparison with other disclosure frameworks and regulatory standards, all supported by good practices and practical examples. Participants will also gain insights on scenario analysis, climate risk assessment methodologies, and the latest tools and resources offered by UNEP FI.

This tutor-led course is designed for executives and middle management staff of banks taking their first steps in sustainable finance. It will also be of interest to financial regulators (central banks, superintendences of banks, etc.) from both developed and developing regions. Government and civil society representatives wishing to learn more about the financial risks and opportunities from climate change, and about the required forward-looking assessment methods, are also welcome.

Courses are offered in English, Spanish and French.

Register here 

 

Content

The key areas addressed in this course are:

  1. Climate change as a physical, meteorological phenomenon and its impacts on natural and manmade systems, covering the basic science of climate change, including the latest scientific insights as compiled by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
  2. The complexities underlying climate-related politics as well as intergovernmental climate negotiations.
  3. The causes and importance of transition-related climate risk – especially as it relates to increased scrutiny on how banks finance GHG-intensive companies and projects.
  4. Climate change mitigation policies, particularly in the energy system.
  5. The historical development of climate risk assessment frameworks and how the global regulatory landscape for climate disclosures has evolved, including major jurisdictional requirements.
  6. Benefits of disclosure and strategic sustainability reporting.
  7. Methodologies for physical risk and transition risk.
  8. Understanding climate stress testing.
  9. Overview of UNEP FI guidelines and resources.

 

2025 courses
Date Language Tutor
5 – 23 May English David Carlin
9 May – 6 June Spanish Fred Seifert
22 September – 10 October English Paul Smith
29 September – 17 October Spanish Gustavo Portaluppi
27 October – 14 November French Ilyès Abdeljaouad

 

Duration and fees

The course lasts three weeks, for two hours per day on average, five days per week. Participants can set their own study times, allowing for a flexible organization. Please see pricing below:

Participant Profile Fee
Representatives of medium-sized and large financial institutions* (non-UNEPFI-members) 1400 USD

Representatives of small financial institutions* (non-UNEPFI-members)

Representatives of non-Governmental Organisations, academics and Government representatives*

 1200 USD
UNEP FI members (Headquarter & Subsidiaries that pay the annual UNEP FI membership fee) 900 USD

*Please note that course fees serve exclusively to cover the costs of running the course, all payments are final and no refund will be given.

5% group discounts (3 or more people from the same financial institution in the same course edition) for non-signatories.

Cancellation Policy: Participants who cancel their participation in a course once it has started and wish to be placed in a future edition will receive as a courtesy a 10% discount on the tuition for that future course. The course is highly customized, and these late cancellations create costs for the organizers and deny the position in the course to others who were turned away.

Certification: A certificate is delivered by UNEP FI and CAF upon successful completion.

Please note that all applications should be submitted via our online form at least one week prior to the course you wish to participate in.

 

Training partners

The course is a product of UNEP FI, initially developed in 2007 and updated in 2025. Course material was updated and translated into Spanish and French in 2020 with the support of the Sustainability Academy, an initiative of the eco.business Fund Development Facility, and CAF – Latin American Development Bank. 

For more information, access our frequently asked questions or contact us.

 

In-person workshops

UNEP FI along with partners offers tailored in-person workshops on climate change for the financial sector. The on-demand sessions are designed to accommodate between 20 and 30 people, for a half or full day. In general, participation is free of charge as our workshops are usually supported and sponsored by local partners.

Please contact us for in-person workshop requests.