Executive Certificate in Sustainable Finance & ESG Analytics
This is the FIRST executive certificate program launched for executives among higher education institutions in Greater Bay Area (GBA), which will be aligned with the Certified ESG Analyst® (CESGA) global certification.
This comprehensive program aims to equip students with a deep understanding of the evolving needs of capital markets concerning Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors and Sustainable Finance. It provides foundational knowledge and practical skills in using cutting-edge data analytics methods, including Machine Learning techniques and Big Data analysis, to support Green Financing and ESG analysis, enabling effective ESG integration into investment decision-making processes, risk assessment, and portfolio management. Through real-world case studies and an exploration of the regulatory landscape, students will develop the necessary expertise to drive the transition towards a more sustainable and responsible financial system, positioning themselves as leaders in creating long-term value for investors and society.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be granted the Executive Certificate in Sustainable Finance and ESG Analytics jointly offered by Lingnan University (Division of Science) and Friends of the Earth.
Maximum HK$10,000 Subsidy
Name of Programme Provider: Lingnan University | Friends of the Earth (HK) Charity Limited
Programme Identification Code: GTP-254234
Programme Name: Executive Certificate in Sustainable Finance and ESG Analytics
This programme is one of the Eligible Programmes under the Pilot Green and Sustainable Finance Capacity Building Support Scheme, (https://greentalent.org.hk/).
The Scheme provides training subsidies to Hong Kong residents who are market practitioners and prospective practitioners of green and sustainable finance, namely students and graduates in relevant disciplines.
After completing Eligible Programmes, applicants can apply for a subsidy of up to 80% of the relevant fees (full-time student applicants can apply for a subsidy of up to 100% of the relevant fees), subject to a ceiling of $10,000.
The reimbursement application should be submitted via the application portal of the Scheme (https://www.greentalent.org.hk/auth/login) within 3 months from the date of completion of the Eligible Programme.
For details, please visit the Scheme website: www.greentalent.org.hk,
or contact the Scheme enquiry hotline: 852-2258-6000,
or email to [email protected].
The Pilot Green and Sustainable Finance Capacity Building Support Scheme reserves the final decision-making authority on all matters and disputes.
About the Course
Course Time: 10:00 - 13:00; 14:00 - 17:00
Enrolment: 1 Sep 2026 - 12 Oct 2026
Course Schedule
Class Schedule: 17 Oct, 24 Oct, 31 Oct and 7 Nov (Sat)
Total Duration: 8 lectures with a total of 24 hours (3 hours per lecture)
Assessment Method
Part A: Individual or group case study to assess understanding of ESG Statistic Analysis, Machine Learning, Risk Analysis Techniques and Big data analytics concepts (50%).
Part B: Assessment of Multiple choice on Green finance & ESG investing (50%).
Completion Requirements: final score is no less than 50 based on the calculation: (Part A+ Part B) /2 (Out of 100 for each part)/2; And class participation and attendance no less than 70%
Course Language
English
Mode of Study
Face to face
Venue
MPL 12/F, Lingnan@WestKowloon (M+, West Kowloon Cultural District, 38 Museum Drive, Kowloon)
Course Structure
Supported by: Pilot Green and Sustainable Finance Capacity Building Support Scheme
Course Syllabus
*Sequence of lectures may be adjusted based on the availability of course instructors.
Lecture-1: Global Trends in ESG Development & Sustainable Finance
- Trends in ESG Development Around the World
- Market Drivers & Barriers to ESG
- ESG and Financial Performance
- Fundamentals of Green & Sustainable Financing
- Definition of Green & Sustainable Finance
- Overview on Green Financial Products and Services
- Latest Development of Sustainable Finance Product Market
- Fundamentals of Green & Sustainable Finance in Banking and Lending
- Principles for Responsible Banking
- Common Green and Sustainable Financial Products and Services
- Banking Industry sustainability strategy & practices
Lecture-2: ESG Reporting, Disclosures & Taxonomy
- Global Reporting Standards
- Reporting Frameworks and Disclosure – Voluntary and Mandatory
- Data Source
- Concept of Materiality
- Global Reporting Standards
- How corporate prepare their ESG report?
Lecture-3: ESG Investing & Responsible Investment
- ESG Investing & ESG Strategies
- Definitions and Developments of ESG Investment
- ESG Investment Strategies
- Responsible Investing
- Introduction of Responsible Investing
- Individual Asset Classes and ESG-aware Investment Strategy
Lecture-4: ESG Integration & ESG Fundamental Analysis
- ESG Integration
- ESG value Identification
- Analysis of ESG
- Controversies and ESG risk litigations
- Consistency with the Business Model
- ESG Integration into Fundamental Analysis
- Investment Guidelines
- Research and Asset Allocation
- Corporate Analysis
- Portfolio Management
- Ownership and Engagement
- Performance Attribution & ESG QualityFundamentals of Carbon Pricing & Trading
Lecture-5 ESG Asset Valuation and Market Trends
- ESG Asset Valuation Basics
- Introduction of ESG Valuation Model
- Basic Valuation Model in Equities (Stranded assets), Fixed Income and Infrastructure
- GSF Markets and Trends in HK, the Greater Bay Area and around the World
- Introduction of ESG in Asia Pacific
- Regulatory Framework in Asia
- Country Analysis in Asia Pacific
Lecture-6: Case Study for ESG Integration & Introduction to Carbon Accounting
- Case Study for ESG Integration
- Case Analysis
- Introduction to Global Carbon Markets
- Fundamentals of Carbon Offset, Pricing & Trading
- Introduction to GHG Emission Calculation and Carbon Audit
- Latest Development of Global Carbon Markets
Lecture-7: Review of ESG Analytics Performance Metrics and Generative AI (G-Ai) for ESG Reporting and Communication
- Module 6: ESG KPIs Formulae, Analysis & Practical Application
- Essential ESG performance indicators (ESG KPIs), formulas and methodologies for ESG KPI calculation
- Interpreting and benchmarking the KPIs with different industries/sectors
- ESG KPIs for different listed companies with different materiality requirement across industries/ sectors
- How Generative Ai to Assist in Analysing ESG Reports Benchmarking Alignment with ESG Standards like Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), HKEX and Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
- Case Study: Leverage Generative AI for ESG Report Analysis & Green Financing
- Ethical considerations & limitations of Generative AI in ESG
- By considering these ethical factors, organizations can harness and make use this innovative power of G-AI while mitigating potential risks and preserving the integrity of their ESG analysis and reporting when using G-Ai for ESG.
Lecture-8: A Comprehensive Review on ESG AI & Analytics, Machine Learning for Sustainable Business
- Introduction to AI and ESG Analytics
- Fundamentals and theory of artificial intelligence and Big Data and its applications in the sustainability context. E.g. machine learning (supervised, unsupervised learning), the role of AI for ESG
- Leveraging geospatial technology for ESG goals and TNFD compliance
- Understanding geospatial data and its analysis tools
- Growing reliance on geospatial data (i.e. satellite-based data, smart sensors, eDNA) for ESG analysis and sustainability
- The role of geospatial technology in TNFD framework
- Machine Learning and Deep Learning Techniques for ESG
- Supervised learning techniques for ESG data analysis (e.g., Decision Tree, Random Forest, regression & classification) and predictive modelling
- Deep Learning: introduction of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) for ESG image and visual analysis and Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) & Long Short-Term Memory (LSTMs) for ESG time series forecasting
Course Calendar
A course calendar with instructor details will be provided to students one weeks before the first day of class.
Course Lecturers
Professional instructors from commerce/business (CESGA and/or CFA holder) and data analytics sectors:
Dr. Stan Ho (CESGA)
Ms. Karen Ho (CESGA)
Ms. Karen Li (CESGA, CFA)
Mr. Alan Lau (CESGA, CFA)
Prof. Paulina Wong (Lingnan University)
Dr. Ir. Rosiah Ho, CEng, RPE, CITP (Lingnan University)
Course Fee and Application
Course fee: up to HKD 9,800*
(reimbursable fees under the Pilot Green and Sustainable Finance Capacity Building Support Scheme)
* Full-time student refers to a student studying a full-time course offered by a recognised educational institution as of the date of application.
**Reimbursement amount is dependent on the actual amount incurred by the programme participant and the applicable percentage of reimbursement based on that participant’s applicant category.
^ Need help with the schedule? Please get in touch with us at [email protected] for assistance.
The Scheme provides training subsidies to Hong Kong residents who are market practitioners and prospective practitioners of green and sustainable finance, namely students and graduates in relevant disciplines.
After completing Eligible Programmes, applicants can apply for a subsidy of up to 80% of the relevant fees (full-time student applicants can apply for a subsidy of up to 100% of the relevant fees), subject to a ceiling of $10,000.
The reimbursement application should be submitted via the application portal of the Scheme (https://www.greentalent.org.hk/auth/login) within 3 months from the date of completion of the Eligible Programme.
Programme Name | Programme Identification Code | Effective Date Under the Scheme* |
Executive Certificate in Sustainable Finance & ESG Analytics | GTP-254234 | 2024/03/05 |
Application Method
(Registration open on 1 Sep 2026)
Previous Cohort
Enquiry:
e-mail: [email protected]
