February 20, 2025
7 weeks, online
4-6 hours per week
US$2,600
What started as a corporate social responsibility initiative by the United Nations 20 years ago has swelled into the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) movement. Many financial institutions and organizations have launched sustainability initiatives related to its governance, but there are critical questions to ask as we evaluate ESG investments, such as:
Source: Bloomberg, 2021
The ESG Investing (Online) program will enable you to:
While there are no specific prerequisites in terms of content knowledge, this program is designed for those who have experience in corporate finance, investment management, or banking.
Senior executives who seek to understand the current sustainable investing landscape and incorporate sustainability factors into their organizations' financial and investment decisions
Mid-Career managers and analysts who serve in finance or investment functions and play a key role in their organizations' financial matters
This program covers finance and sustainability as integrated subjects, beginning with an introduction to financial and investment principles and ending with financial analysis, financing, and valuation.
Examine the origins of the stakeholder movement, which forms the basis for ESG investing.
Choose an ESG reporting framework that is appropriate for your industry, and learn how ESG ratings are calculated.
Analyze ESG ratings and supplementary data to ensure sound investment decisions.
Identify the risks associated with climate change, understand how organizations are responding to climate risk, and determine whether climate risk is reflected in asset prices.
Analyze claims made by both funds and organizations about their sustainability efforts and examine how organizations deal with transition risk.
Delve into the future of ESG investing and examine the three pillars of sustainable investing: intangibles, climate, and sustainability-based products.
Examine the origins of the stakeholder movement, which forms the basis for ESG investing.
Identify the risks associated with climate change, understand how organizations are responding to climate risk, and determine whether climate risk is reflected in asset prices.
Choose an ESG reporting framework that is appropriate for your industry, and learn how ESG ratings are calculated.
Analyze claims made by both funds and organizations about their sustainability efforts and examine how organizations deal with transition risk.
Analyze ESG ratings and supplementary data to ensure sound investment decisions.
Delve into the future of ESG investing and examine the three pillars of sustainable investing: intangibles, climate, and sustainability-based products.
World-Renowned Faculty
Learn from accomplished faculty whose diverse backgrounds encompass a broad range of disciplines
Guest Speaker
Accomplished academics and experts offer unique perspectives and the opportunity to put learning into practice
Peer Interaction
Stimulating discussions with like-minded global peers expand your professional network and build a supportive community
Case Studies
Through exploratory sessions, examine practical examples and find innovative solutions to strategic challenges
Live Faculty Sessions
Get actionable insights in live online interactions with faculty who are recognized leaders in their fields
Engaging Assignments and Activities
Hone business acumen and executive skills with try-it activities that help you redefine your potential
Several large oil and gas organizations have promised to reach net zero carbon emissions. However, these organizations vary widely in their motivations, preparedness, and strategies. This case goes behind the net zero headlines to evaluate whether the energy transition plans by two organizations from both sides of the Atlantic are credible.
An increasingly popular form of financing ESG projects is the issuance of bonds linked to sustainability goals. This case considers Verizon’s issue of a green bond linked to promised cuts in carbon emissions. We take a deep dive into the terms of the bond issue, how the proceeds were promised to be deployed, what default means with green targets, and whether the issue enjoyed a green premium in terms of interest savings. Participants are asked to assess the bond issue: did the bond deliver in terms of social impact, and was it a good business decision to issue the green bond?
Tesla is the darling of the ESG world due to the unprecedented increase in its market valuation in anticipation of its entry into the S&P500 index. But is there more to Tesla’s ESG credentials than meets the eye? This case is a deep dive into assessing how executives seek Tesla’s ESG actions and policies. Participants have to assess whether Tesla truly deserves its ESG halo.
Past participants of the ESG Investing (Online) program come from diverse backgrounds, industries, and experiences.
Average years of work experience:
Top industries:
Top functions:
Top countries:
Note: Data from across previous cohorts
Shivaram Rajgopal
The Kester and Byrnes Professor of Accounting and Auditing at Columbia Business School
Shivaram Rajgopal served as the vice dean for research at Columbia Business School from 2017–2019. He is a leading expert in measuring how well managers serve as responsible stewards of their organizations' resources. In addition to pioneering research on short-termism, Rajgopal's extensive body of work covers a wide range of contemporary issues in financial reporting, fiscal responsibility, and corporate governance.
He is passionate about bridging academic theory with policy setting and corporate practice. He is a regular contributor to Forbes and the Harvard Business Review and is frequently cited in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Bloomberg News, the Financial Times, BusinessWeek, and the Economist.
He has advised asset management organizations, think tanks, advisory organizations, and professional and trade associations on (i) measuring and curbing corporate short termism; (ii) understanding how financial statements misrepresent value creation for digital organizations; (iii) understanding the impact of reporting frequency on corporate activities; (iv) reporting, communicating, and managing foreign currency exposure; and (v) assessing the impact of corporate social responsibility initiatives for organizations and investors.
Managing Director and Global Head of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Sustainability Research at Jefferies Group LLC
Upon completion of the ESG Investing (Online) program, you will receive a certificate of participation from Columbia Business School Executive Education. This certificate also awards two credits towards the Certificate in Business Excellence, which grants select alumni and tuition benefits. Learn More
Download BrochureYour digitally verified certificate will be issued in your legal name and emailed to you, at no additional cost, upon completion of the program, including all modules of the program (online, in person, or live online, inter-module). All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of Columbia Business School Executive Education.
After reviewing the information on the program landing page, we recommend you submit the short form above to gain access to the program brochure, which includes more in-depth information. If you still have questions on whether this program is a good fit for you, please email learner.success@emeritus.org, and a dedicated program advisor will follow-up with you very shortly.
Some programs do have prerequisites, particularly the more technical ones. This information will be noted on the program landing page, as well as in the program brochure. If you are uncertain about program prerequisites and your capabilities, please email us at the ID mentioned above.
Note that, unless otherwise stated on the program web page, all programs are taught in English and proficiency in English is required.
More than 50 percent of our participants are from outside the United States. Class profiles vary from one cohort to the next, but, generally, our online certificates draw a highly diverse audience in terms of professional experience, industry, and geography — leading to a very rich peer learning and networking experience.
Check back to this program web page or email us to inquire if future program dates or the timeline for future offerings have been confirmed yet.
Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page.
We have designed this program to fit into your current working life as efficiently as possible. Time will be spent among a variety of activities including:
The program is designed to be highly interactive while also allowing time for self-reflection and to demonstrate an understanding of the core topics through various active learning exercises. Please email us if you need further clarification on program activities.
More than 300,000 learners across 200 countries have chosen to advance their skills with Emeritus and its educational learning partners. In fact, 90 percent of the respondents of a recent survey across all our programs said that their learning outcomes were met or exceeded.
All the contents of the course would be made available to students at the commencement of the course. However, to ensure the program delivers the desired learning outcomes the students may appoint Emeritus to manage the delivery of the program in a cohort-based manner the cost of which is already included in the overall course fee of the course.
A dedicated program support team is available 24/5 (Monday to Friday) to answer questions about the learning platform, technical issues, or anything else that may affect your learning experience.
Peer learning adds substantially to the overall learning experience and is an important part of the program. You can connect and communicate with other participants through our learning platform.
Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week, so you can gauge what will be required before you enroll. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page. All programs are designed to fit into your working life.
This program is scored as a pass or no-pass; participants must complete the required activities to pass and obtain the certificate of completion. Some programs include a final project submission or other assignments to obtain passing status. This information will be noted in the program brochure. Please email us if you need further clarification on any specific program requirements.
Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a smart digital certificate. The smart digital certificate can be shared with friends, family, schools, or potential employers. You can use it on your cover letter, resume, and/or display it on your LinkedIn profile.
The digital certificate will be sent approximately two weeks after the program, once grading is complete.
No, only verified digital certificates will be issued upon successful completion. This allows you to share your credentials on social platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
No, there is no alumni status granted for this program. In some cases, there are credits that count toward a higher level of certification. This information will be clearly noted in the program brochure.
You will have access to the online learning platform and all the videos and program materials for 12 months following the program start date. Access to the learning platform is restricted to registered participants per the terms of agreement.
Participants will need the latest version of their preferred browser to access the learning platform. In addition, Microsoft Office and a PDF viewer are required to access documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts.
Yes, the learning platform is accessed via the internet, and video content is not available for download. However, you can download files of video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. For maximum flexibility, you can access program content from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device.
Video lectures must be streamed via the internet, and any livestream webinars and office hours will require an internet connection. However, these sessions are always recorded, so you may view them later.
Yes, you can register up until seven days past the published start date of the program without missing any of the core program material or learnings.
The program fee is noted at the top of this program web page and usually referenced in the program brochure as well.
Yes, you can do the bank remittance in the program currency via wire transfer or debit card. Please contact your program advisor, or email us for details.
Yes! Please email us with the details of the program you are interested in, and we will assist you.
Please email us your invoicing requirements and the specific program you’re interested in enrolling in.
Yes, the flexible payment option allows a participant to pay the program fee in installments. This option is made available on the payment page and should be selected before submitting the payment.
Please connect with us via email for assistance.
Emeritus collects all program payments, provides learner enrollment and program support, and manages learning platform services.
Program fees for Emeritus programs with Columbia Business School Executive Education may not be paid for with Title IV financial aid funds. Participants may be able to pay the program fee with funds from the GI Bill, the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Act of 2008, or similar types of military education funding benefits. Participants must contact the Columbia University’s Office of Military and Veterans Affairs to determine benefit eligibility.
For the program refund and deferral policy, please click the link here.
Flexible payment options available.