CFA Institute and ACCA Climate Finance course candidates eligible for subsidies under government pilot scheme for sustainable finance capacity building

CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals, and ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), the global body for professional accountants, have taken a step forward in ongoing efforts to proactively support and contribute to ESG capacity building, with the eligibility of Climate Finance course candidates to benefit from training subsidies under the Hong Kong SAR government’s Pilot Green and Sustainable Finance Capacity Building Support Scheme.

CFA Institute and ACCA recently worked together on the Climate Finance course, which is designed by experts from both bodies. This course provides an introduction to climate change and its related economic and environmental impacts, as well as climate solutions. It covers climate change, carbon pricing, sustainable business models, and climate risk and opportunities in the context of business as well as portfolio construction and investment analysis. This course is unique in its holistic approach because it presents the topic from the perspectives of both issuers and investors, and hence is suitable for diverse audiences.

In light of efforts to promote and transition to a low-carbon and sustainable economy, the Hong Kong SAR government has earmarked HK$200 million to launch the three-year Pilot Green and Sustainable Finance Capacity Building Support Scheme (https://www.greentalent.org.hk/Programme) to provide subsidies for the training and acquisition of relevant professional qualifications in sustainable finance. The Climate Finance course has been included as one of the Eligible Programmes under the Pilot Scheme. Upon successful completion of the programme, eligible applicants may claim reimbursements for up to 80% of the exam registration fees, and full-time students are able to claim up to 100% reimbursement.

The CFA Institute Certificate in ESG Investing, which equips investment professionals with the technical knowledge and practical application needed to understand the fundamentals of climate change and the integration of ESG into the investment process, is also included as one of the Eligible Programmes under the Pilot Scheme.

Nick Pollard, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, CFA Institute, said, “ESG factors are increasingly recognised as integral components of investment analysis. Growing demand for products and skills to support sustainable investing, and concerns over greenwashing, have created a real and urgent need for finance professionals to develop a deeper understanding of how these factors are impacting the industry, clients, and the world at large. With Climate Finance course candidates able to benefit from subsidies under the Pilot Green and Sustainable Finance Capacity Building Support Scheme, we take another step towards a more sustainable future.”

Christina So, Head of ACCA Hong Kong, and Greater Bay Area (GBA) Lead, said, “In a world where key stakeholders are demanding more from companies and their net zero objectives, green finance has become a ‘must-have’ skill for accounting and finance professionals to create long-term value, driving the migration to sustainable economies and businesses. With ACCA’s global agenda, Accounting for a better world, it’s our commitment to foster positive change through professional skills. Together with CFA Institute, we proudly co-launch this transformative Climate Finance course, now supported by the Hong Kong SAR government’s subsidies. With talent development at the core, we empower Hong Kong’s talent to upskill for a sustainable future and shape a better world.”

For more information about the Climate Finance course, please visit https://store.cfainstitute.org/climate-finance/ and www.accaglobal.com/climatefinance.

ACCA and CFA Institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2018 and work together on areas of common interest, such as research, thought leadership and learning opportunities, particularly on issues such as ESG, sustainability and ethics.