The term ESG was first coined in a landmark study called “Who cares wins” in 2005. The report “made the case that embedding environmental, social and governance factors in capital markets makes good business sense and leads to more sustainable markets and better outcomes for societies.*”

14 years on ESG is now definitely a major focus with:

• Over 80% of the world’s largest corporations using GRI standards*
• ESG investing estimated at over $20 trillion in AUM*

CFA UK are pulling their weight to ensure the membership stay updated on all aspects of this hot topic.  ESG is so vital to the industry that CFA UK volunteers are working hard to launch an ESG qualification. Meanwhile, our programme of live events and webinars have been created by volunteers bringing their experience and knowledge of ESG to the wider membership.

The ESG Panel, chaired by long-term volunteer, Sylvia Solomon and made up of some of the industry’s leading practitioners of ESG are preparing for the pilot launch of CFA UK’s first ESG qualification.  The syllabus for this new qualification was originally agreed in 2018 by a very engaged ESG working group. The Panel’s remit is to take the excellent work done and move this into qualification delivery, focusing on learning materials and assessment production and launch.  It is anticipated that a pilot will run at the end of July and formal launch of the qualification will take place in May 2019.

If you think your firm would be interested in getting involved with the pilot testing, contact Director of Education, Christina Curtin.

The ESG Events working group (Justin Kew, CFA, Clarissa Hauptmann, CFA, and Oliver MacArthur, CFA) kicked off a season of diverse ESG content with Colin Mayer talking about the role of governance  in asset management and asset ownership. This was followed by a webinar on the financial impact from climate change on forest, food and land sectors. And there’s lots more scheduled in the events calendar.

The Career Opportunities working group (Elena Koycheva, CFA, CAIA, Hish Ravindra,  CFA, Olga Hibezh and Yana Stunis, CFA) identified the need for more information about working in ESG and delivered an exciting careers event presented by Cleo Fitzsimons, Head of Responsible Investment, Cazenove and Nadia Lane, Head of ESG Products for EMEA, MSCI.

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*https://www.forbes.com/sites/georgkell/2018/07/11/the-remarkable-rise-of-esg/#78a7a73b1695