The Institute of Finance and Sustainability (IFS) is a non-profit think tank with a focus on green finance and sustainable development in China and globally. It aims to advance green finance and sustainable development through high-quality research, capacity building, and advocacy work. The institute provides policy, market, and product research, as well as an international cooperation platform for green finance and sustainable development. Its areas of focus include international cooperation in green finance, energy and climate, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investment and finance, and GreenTech innovation and investment. The IFS collaborates with various organizations and initiatives to promote sustainable finance and to support the development and growth of green finance, both in China and on a global scale.
The Institute of Finance and Sustainability (IFS) focuses on various research areas to advance green finance and sustainable development. Some of the key research areas include:
International cooperation in green finance: IFS collaborates with international partners to promote sustainable finance and support the development of green finance markets globally.
Energy and climate: The institute conducts research on energy transition and low carbon development, aiming to improve the global environment and address climate change.
ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investment and finance: IFS explores the impact of ESG factors on financial performance and the development of sustainable investment strategies.
Greentech innovation and investment: The institute investigates the role of technology in promoting sustainable development and the potential of green technology investments.
Policy and regulatory frameworks: IFS analyzes the policy and regulatory landscape for sustainable finance, advocating for policies that prioritize prudential risk management, financial stability, and economic growth.
Capacity building and executive training: The institute organizes capacity building and executive training programs to enhance the skills and knowledge of professionals in the sustainable finance sector.
Sustainable finance education: IFS contributes to the development of educational programs and resources on sustainable finance, such as summer schools and master’s programs.
By focusing on these research areas, the Institute of Finance and Sustainability aims to contribute to the growth and development of sustainable finance and support the transition to a more environmentally friendly and equitable economy.
The Capacity-building Alliance of Sustainable Investment (CASI) is a global initiative launched in 2023 by the Beijing-based Institute of Finance and Sustainability (IFS) in collaboration with over 30 global institutions. CASI aims to provide quality learning programs to support countries to develop sustainable finance in emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs) in the ASEAN, Central Asian, African, the Middle East, and Latin American regions.
CASI seeks to equip developing economies with the capacity to develop domestic sustainable financial markets and originate bankable green projects. The lack of technical capacity is a key impediment to mobilization of private sector financing for sustainable finance in much of the Global South. CASI will offer in-person training and online learning programs to a broad audience including financial institutions, corporates, and services providers from EMDEs, addressing key bottlenecks faced in these markets, such as green taxonomy, sustainability disclosure, financial products, policy incentives, carbon markets, and origination of green projects.
CASI offers a range of capacity building programs to support countries in developing sustainable finance in emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs). These programs include face-to-face training programs, e-learning products, online courses, certificate programs, and tailor-made courses. CASI’s learning programs will cover topics such as green taxonomies, sustainability disclosure, financial products, policy incentives, carbon markets, and project origination.
The target audience of the CASI programs includes senior professionals from financial regulators and financial institutions, service providers, as well as corporates that need to originate green and bankable projects. CASI aims to attract an audience of 100,000 people by 2030. The programs will be distributed through a variety of means, including online courses, certificate programs, face-to-face training events, and tailor-made courses. CASI will begin its operations in 2024, with in-person events planned in Asia, Africa, Middle East, and Latin America. 1234
