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There are 6 modules in this course
As ESG investing continues to evolve, so do the funding mechanisms many companies, organizations, and governments use to finance their stated goals. Indeed, ESG-focused financial products, or ‘green assets’, have been growing in volume – as well as by type. In the fixed income space alone, instruments available to investors include green bonds, social bonds, sustainability-linked bonds, climate awareness bonds, gender bonds, and others – not to mention a growing list of ESG-themed exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Through this series of videos, webinars, and readings, students with basic knowledge of traditional financial products (e.g., bonds, ETFs) will learn how to describe various characteristics of green assets, including the supply, demand, and performance of green bonds, as well as holdings of certain ESG-themed ETFs, and discuss the recent growth of related fund flows. They should also be able to explain the principles and frameworks behind the issuance of different ESG-related fixed income products, as well as provide insights into how certain government and central bank policies may pose some critical challenges in this space.
This module centers on several types of green assets, including green bonds and social bonds, and the International Capital Market Association’s (ICMA) role in providing the driving principles behind their issuance. You should be able to explain who is selling these instruments, as well as some of the fixed-income related risks inherent in these types of products. Other green assets such as ESG-themed ETFs, and certain commodities are also introduced.
What's included
2 videos3 readings1 assignment2 peer reviews
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2 videos•Total 10 minutes
An Introduction to Green Assets - Course Overview•1 minute
ESG-focused Financial Products: Benefits & Risks - Study Notes•10 minutes
ICMA - Green Bond Principles•20 minutes
ICMA - Social Bond Principles•20 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
An Introduction to Green Assets - Quiz•30 minutes
2 peer reviews•Total 60 minutes
Green Bond Principles - Practical Assessment•30 minutes
Social Bond Principles - Practical Assessment•30 minutes
Fixed Income Product Perspectives - Truvalue Labs (Parts 1-3)
Module 2•2 hours to complete
Module details
This webinar, “The Global State of GSSS Bonds”, presented by James Cardamone, associate director of ESG product at FactSet-owned Truvalue Labs, takes a deeper look at some of the financial instruments associated with ESG investing – many of which have recently witnessed an increasing groundswell of supply and demand. Through this presentation, you should acquire a better picture of ESG-related fixed income products, such as green, social, sustainable, and sustainability-linked bonds, how to analyze them, and, ultimately, make better informed investment decisions. Among other topics, Cardamone explores the allure behind these fixed-income products, who is selling and buying them, how they differ from conventional bonds, and what purposes they serve within the ESG investing sphere.
What's included
3 videos3 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
3 videos•Total 18 minutes
GSSS Market Overview•7 minutes
Brief History & Growth of GSSS Issuance•5 minutes
Green Bonds: Consumer Composition and Considerations•6 minutes
3 readings•Total 65 minutes
The Global State of GSSS Bonds - Handout Presentation•10 minutes
Climate Bonds Initiative - Sustainable Debt - Global State of the Market (2020)•45 minutes
Alphabet issues sustainability bonds to support environmental and social initiatives•10 minutes
Fixed Income Product Perspectives - Truvalue Labs (Parts 4-5)
Module 3•1 hour to complete
Module details
“The Global State of GSSS Bonds” webinar continues with James Cardamone, associate director of ESG product at FactSet-owned Truvalue Labs, demonstrating green bond performance, the ‘greenium’ effect, and delves further into how to evaluate green bond issuers, as well as analyze their performance in the secondary market.
What's included
2 videos1 assignment
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2 videos•Total 13 minutes
Green Bond Performance & the Greenium Effect•6 minutes
Green Bonds: Further Evaluation of Issuers and Performance•8 minutes
Fixed Income Product Perspectives - Truvalue Labs (Parts 6-7)
Module 4•10 hours to complete
Module details
“The Global State of GSSS Bonds” webinar continues with James Cardamone, associate director of ESG product at FactSet-owned Truvalue Labs, addressing participants' questions about ESG scoring, and green washing – topics that will also be echoed in later lessons.
What's included
2 videos2 readings1 assignment1 peer review
Show info about module content
2 videos•Total 8 minutes
Q&A: On ESG Scoring•3 minutes
Q&A: Addressing Green Bonds & Green Washing•5 minutes
2 readings•Total 480 minutes
Apple - Green Bond Prospectus•180 minutes
Bank of America - Green Bond Prospectus•300 minutes
Examining Green Bond Issuance: "Use of Proceeds" - Practical Assessment•60 minutes
ESG-themed Exchange-traded Funds
Module 5•3 hours to complete
Module details
The next series of videos introduces you to ESG-themed ETFs, another asset class in the sustainability-related space, including a broad overview by Ron DeLegge, founder of ETFguide and host of the series ETF Battles. In that introduction, DeLegge offers insights into how standards vary across these products, as well as presents four of the top US-listed ETFs by assets, which may be used to begin your research. DeLegge is then joined by two analysts, who compare and contrast three index-based, ESG-focused ETFs from iShares and Vanguard – with their evaluations formed on the bases of cost, exposure strategy, performance, and more – demonstrating how you can follow their analytical strategies for your own investing decisions.
What's included
2 videos1 assignment1 peer review
Show info about module content
2 videos•Total 24 minutes
ETFguide - Strategies for the Mindful Investor•7 minutes
ETFguide’s ETF Battles•18 minutes
1 assignment•Total 45 minutes
ESG-themed ETFs - Quiz•45 minutes
1 peer review•Total 90 minutes
ESG-themed ETFs: Comparative Study - Practical Assessment•90 minutes
Reading Reinforcements
Module 6•5 hours to complete
Module details
Readings in this module home in on the principles underlying different types of ESG-related fixed income products, examines certain specific bonds, as well as delves into certain government policy underpinning the rise of green asset supply, product diversity, and fund flows. We’ve also provided some commentary and research that addresses certain critical challenges of green bonds that you may factor into your analyses.
What's included
1 video12 readings1 assignment2 peer reviews
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 1 minute
Reading Reinforcements•1 minute
12 readings•Total 175 minutes
ICMA - Sustainability Bond Guidelines•15 minutes
ICMA - Sustainability-linked Bond Principles•25 minutes
AMMC - Gender Bond Guidelines•45 minutes
Bank of America - Fifth Corporate Green Bond for $2 Billion (Oct 2019)•10 minutes
IBKR - SMFG Sells Green Bonds As Climate Change Gains Ground (Jan 2021)•10 minutes
Apple - $4.7 billion Green Bond spend is helping to create 1.2 GW of clean power (Mar 2021)•10 minutes
Moody's - Sustainable bond issuance hits record high in Q3 as green bonds recover (Nov 2020)•10 minutes
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What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.