Climate Finance and Investments
| Module title | Climate Finance and Investments |
|---|---|
| Module code | BEAM103 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Jean-Francois Mercure (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 60 |
|---|
Module description
Climate finance and investment refer to the allocation of financial resources and investment activities towards projects and initiatives that address climate change mitigation and adaption. This module introduces you to the role of finance and investment in the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy, the sources of financial risk and opportunity related with climate change and sustainability, and how organisations navigate them. You will explore the science of climate change and its related economic and environmental impacts. You will learn about climate and sustainability public policy developments, their economic impacts, and carefully examine the financial tools that can be used to mitigate and adapt to climate change. You will gain an overview of the key concepts, strategies, and challenges associated with mobilising and deploying financial resources to support climate action and managing and disclosing climate and sustainability-related financial risks and impacts.
Module aims - intentions of the module
• To gain a comprehensive understanding of the key principles, mechanisms, and challenges associated with climate change drivers, impacts and their mitigation.
• To engage in discussions, develop strategies, and make informed decisions related to mobilising financial resources for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
• To evaluate the potential risks and opportunities associated with climate-related investments.
• To explore the policy frameworks and regulatory mechanisms that influence climate finance and investment decision.
• To understand how organisations navigate rapidly evolving climate policy landscapes, regulatory disclosure requirements, consumer tastes and investment trends.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. explain the key concepts, principles and objectives of climate finance and investment
- 2. assess the risks and opportunities associated with climate finance and investment strategies
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. examine climate policy and regulation approaches and responses to climate risk and their impacts on the financial services sector
- 4. understand and apply tools of climate and sustainability-related risk and impact disclosure tools.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. critically evaluate climate change and its impact on the environment, economy, society, and the financial services sector
- 6. collaborate effectively in teams to develop organisation-based climate impact and risk mitigation solutions
Syllabus plan
The syllabus list is indicative.
• Understanding Climate Change
• Climate change economics
• Climate change policy-making
• Climate-related risk and financial regulation
• Climate-related financial disclosure
• Climate investment strategies Climate Finance for Developing Countries
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 120 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 20 | Lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 10 | Workshops (all students in one weekly session) |
| Guided Independent Study | 120 | Reading, research, reflection; preparation for lectures, workshops and assessments |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discussion of academic papers | Assigned academic papers | 1-6 | Oral feedback from the module lead |
| Presentation of the proposal (group) | 5-minute oral presentation in the workshop | 1-6 | Oral feedback from the module lead |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation of real-life cases (group) | 20 | 10-minute oral presentation in workshop and accompanying slides | 1-6 | Oral feedback from the class and written feedback from the module lead |
| Assignment | 80 | 2,750 words | 1-5 | Written feedback |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation of real-life cases (group) (20%) | 10 minute oral presentation in workshop | 1-6 | Referral/deferral period |
| Assignment (80%) | Assignment (80%, 2,750 words) | 1-5 | Referral/deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to sit the written examination and/or practical examination as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 50%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic readings:
• Mercure J-F & Pollitt H, Rethinking climate policy: Innovation and the economics of resource creation. Cambridge University Press (2025).
• Sherwood, M.W. and Pollard, J. (2023). Responsible Investing: An Introduction to Environmental, Social, and Governance Investments (2nd ef.). Oxon: Routledge.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- All lecture and tutorial materials are posted on the intranet.
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
- Supplementary reading materials are indicated in the references of each lecture
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 14/06/2023 |
| Last revision date | 10/06/2024 |
