In this course, you will learn the key international and regional sustainability developments in the non-financial industries (NFIs) so that you can relate them to your clients’ relevant industries. The course provides a summary of key frameworks and tools that are considered best practice.

The knowledge and awareness gained will help you to advise your clients to address the key sustainability that have been adopted, issues that they face and equip you with the expertise to explain and engage them in how to harness the technology and business model developments that support climate mitigation, adaptation and transition or address other sustainability issues and/or client industries.

By helping them to manage the risk and opportunities arising from these developments, you will also gain a better understanding and awareness of the key sustainability related dependencies and impacts on the financial sector and your organization, including the risks and opportunities.

• Relationship managers and senior relationship managers in private banks
• Covered persons under Private Banking Code of Conduct

• Able to understand and explain the key domestic, regional and international sustainability developments and their implications in the relevant non-financial industries.
• Be aware of the key domestic, regional and international sustainability trends, issues and challenges and their relevance to the client’s industries in terms of risks and opportunities, including their global ambitions.
• Able to harness their knowledge on the technology and business model developments that support climate mitigation, adaptation and transition or address other sustainability issues and/or client industries.
• Able to guide their clients in the non-financial industries on the policies and practices to embed sustainability risks and opportunities in the non-financial organisation and engage them to manage their key sustainability related dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities.

1. Key international & regional regulatory sustainability developments in the nonfinancial industries (NFI)

• Definition: Sustainability development
• Key domestic, regional and international sustainability developments in the NFIs
• Financial sector related regulations in sustainable finance
• External risks as additional challenges

2. Key sustainability trends

• Managing tension between near-term risks and making progress on long-term sustainability goals
• The increasing demand for sustainability disclosure and reporting
• The growth of sustainable investment and financing
• The rise of social and human rights issues
• The innovation and adoption of technology and business models that support climate and sustainability risk management

3. Key sustainability issues and challenges

• Sustainability Issues & Challenges
• Climate change and its physical, transition risks and opportunities
• Resource Scarcity & Circular Economy
• Social Inequality & Human Rights
• Digital Transformation & Data Privacy
• Sustainability Issues & Relevance to Clients’ Industries (NFI)
• Examples of Sustainability/ESG Material Factors
• Their relevance to the client’s industries (NFIs) in terms of risks and opportunities

4. Alignment & Global Ambitions between Key Sustainability Risks & Opportunities in Relevant Industries

• Global Ambitions for Sustainable Development
• Alignment between key sustainability risks and opportunities in relevant industries
• Assessing the alignment using frameworks and tools and examples of these frameworks and tools

5. Technology & Business Model Developments that Support Climate Risk Management & Address Sustainability Issues

• Examples of technology developments
• Examples of business model developments

6. Policies & Practices to Embed Sustainability Risks & Opportunities in NFIs

• Top-down Governance
• Operational Governance & Resilience
• Organizational Culture
• Information & Communication

7. Explaining Key Sustainability Trends & Social / Environmental Risks in the NFIs to Stakeholders

8. Engaging Customers on their Key Sustainability-related Dependencies, Impacts, Risks & Opportunities

Assessment - MCQ