"jcr:935af60d-c04c-4adc-9a29-7795e7571db8" (String)
Choose your language
Sustainability@FS
Sustainability
Sustainability is the talk of the town. Sustainability is the prerequisite for a future worth living, especially when dealing with the farewell to fossil fuels and the dissemination of renewable energy. Finally, sustainability is not for free. Frankfurt School researches, develops and implements projects with the framework of financing sustainability.
Part of it is the extension of sustainable power generation, a gigantic project and part of a global structural transformation, eventually leading to a climate friendly, low emission and altogether sustainable economy. The question is not, whether the energy transition is going to happen. Much rather it is about the “how“ and “how quickly“ the transition to an almost carbon-free economy will be implemented. Changes in the power generating and distribution infrastructure need investments in new technologies. The structure of energy markets will evolve, in order to empower the integration and finally the dominance of renewable energy in the power mix. Nonetheless, this sector will remain strongly regulated.
Changes like these challenge investors and power suppliers, but also lawmakers. Pushing forward the financing of renewable energy calls for an understanding of rules, market structures and technologies as well as their impact on the investors perspective. How do midterm and longterm returns change? What are the associated risks? What will be the regulatory influence on investment incentives? Frankfurt School faces the numerous challenges in the growing field of sustainable finance in all sectors: In Academic Programmes, Executive Education, in Research and in many consulting projects worldwide.
Better climate - Green and Sustainable Finance Cluster Germany (GSFCG)
There is no doubt: Green and sustainable finance constitutes a core subject of the process of transformation to a sustainable global economic and financial system. Neither the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals nor the implementation of the Paris Agreement are possible without fundamental change, to be accomplished within the framework of the basic structure of national and international capital allocations.
The Green and Sustainable Finance Cluster Germany wants to establish forward thinking and efficient financial market structures based on the implementation of sustainable financing strategies. The network brings together activities of the various stakeholders, creates synergies shaping this transformation process in an efficient and cost-reducing manner. The aim is to support the transition to a climate-friendly and sustainable economy and to support sponsors and supporters with needs-driven work on sustainable finance topics, starting with outlining the status quo, work on standards and professional training, and to give Frankfurt a voice that resonates internationally.
The Cluster, initiated in 2017 by the Hessian Ministry of Economic Affairs, joined forces withDeutsche Börse Group lead Accelerating Sustainable Finance Initiative in spring 2018. It is a project that forms part of the Integrated Climate Protection Plan Hesse 2025. It is hosted at the Frankfurt School-UNEP Collaborating Centre for Climate & Sustainable Energy Finance.
Innovation made at FS - Sustainability
Frankfurt Declaration
Current global challenges, such as climate change and the progress of digitalization, need innovative and solution-oriented action. Therefore it is crucial to transform the financial system to a more sustainable system worldwide.
The Frankfurt Declaration, introduced by the Deutsche Börse Group, is a voluntary commitment which attests the signatories’ intent to take action to define a framework for a sustainable financial sector. It aims to mobilize market participants and hence a sustainable financial market infrastructure. Frankfurt School of Finance & Management fully supports the declaration.
UN Global Compact
Since March 2018, Frankfurt School of Finance & Management officially supports the Global Compact of the United Nations. The network between businesses and the UN supports a more social and sustainable globalisation. The business school proclaims to support the ten principles of the UN Global Compact. This includes to comply and support human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Frankfurt School commits to report on progress.
Principles of Responsible Management Education
Frankfurt School is among the first academic institutions around the world to participate in the United Nations Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME).
With that, Frankfurt School expresses a conviction that academic institutions, through integrating universal values into curriculum and research, can contribute to a more stable and inclusive global market and help build prosperous and thriving societies.
Having signed the document, Frankfurt School commits itself to integrating corporate responsibility and sustainability in a systemic manner into its curricula, research, teaching methodologies and institutional strategy.
Across the globe - Sustainable Development
Frankfurt School’s International Advisory Services (IAS) has recognized the demand for consultancy and training in the financial sector since the early 1990s. With funding from leading international development institutions (e.g. ADB, AFD, AfDB, EC, EBRD, EIB, GIZ, IFC, KfW, World Bank) or directly from our clients, we help institutions tackle financial bottlenecks and provide innovative and sustainable solutions by facilitating financial inclusion for all.
We believe that well-functioning and resilient financial systems are essential in boosting economic growth and employment and ensuring stability in developing states, as well as contributing to poverty reduction and income equality across the globe.
We also strongly believe that our technical assistance efforts are contributing to improved living conditions for the most vulnerable groups in the countries where we operate and support the achievement of most of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
More Less
IAS has three operational pillars – the Advisory, Training & Education and Analytical units encompass all of our core competences. Our Advisory unit is comprised of nine competence centres that target traditional fields in finance such as Financial Inclusion, SME Banking and Affordable Housing Finance, but also engage in newer topics such as Gender Finance and Women Empowerment, Climate & Green Energy Finance, and ICT Solutions. The Training & Education pillar contains our portfolio of e-learning courses, post-experience degrees and open enrolment executive programmes. Last but not least, the Analytical unit combines academic research with project implementation in delivering various studies, policy advisory, assessments and research papers.
We deliver world class expertise from our Frankfurt Head Office, as well as the regional centres in China, India, Kenya, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. We operate in more than 130 countries and have implemented over 800 projects in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, the Pacific, as well as Latin America and the Caribbean. Our strength lies in understanding the organisational context of our clients and offering flexible solutions in terms of feasibility and sustainability.
Climate Adaptation: Tajikistan Climate Resilience Financing Facility Climate Adaptation
Tajikistan is regarded as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. In particular, its water resources and hydropower production will be increasingly affected by changes in temperature, melting of glaciers and precipitation. Land degradation, already another major concern in Tajikistan due to its mountainous terrain and poor land management practices, is also expected to intensify due to climate change. All these natural developments are dramatic and can have severe negative economic and social impact on the country if left unmitigated.
Unfortunately, climate change may not be stopped, however mitigation and adaptation measures are possible. To address these challenges, The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) appointed Frankfurt School to manage the Tajikistan Climate Resilience Financing Facility (ClimatAdapt). The Facility is currently cooperating with four selected Tajik Partner Financial Institutions to gain access to the target private sector participants, i.e. smaller borrowers from the agriculture, business/manufacturing and residential sectors that will benefit from the Facility through specific lending windows reflecting their diverse needs.
We have successfully implemented and financed innovation in the field of water efficiency, sustainable land management, renewable energy and energy efficiency. Our multi-disciplinary team has offered capacity-building activities to support PFIs in the provision of climate financing solutions for Tajik private sector. We also helped disburse a USD 10 million credit line through systematic sub-project pipeline development and technical assessments.
Financial Inclusion: Frankfurt School assists EIB in the lending operations in the Southern African region
We believe that it is vital to develop the local and regional financial sectors, by enhancing access to finance and ensuring a sustainable economic development, in order to promote job creation and to maximize the impact of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). In line with the EU Agenda for Change and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the European Investment Bank has focused on private sector development and has offered lines of credit to approved Financial Intermediaries in the Southern Africa region. The goal is to encourage them to support lending to MSMEs.
Since March 2015, a Frankfurt School team of experienced international, regional and local experts trains and advises 11 partner institutions in Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia. The team is designing and delivering training programmes focusing on credit and banking risk management to the financial intermediaries, as well as strengthening environmental and social risk management. We also provide targeted capacity building to the financial intermediaries in areas such as lending operation, product development, branch management, governance and marketing and providing financial literacy, managerial and entrepreneurship skills to current and potential final borrowers (MSMEs).
In addition to the in-house training and advisory, we have also established the annual EIB Southern Africa SME & Microfinance Academy to bring financial intermediaries, bankers associations, development finance institutions and development partners together for knowledge exchange on trends and sector-related challenges.
Agriculture: Enhanced Competitiveness of Tajik Agribusinesses – Supporting the Tajik agricultural sector from farm to fork
Since late 2014 the IAS team of Frankfurt School has been supporting the Tajik agricultural sector in all areas of food production, processing and consumption practices. Integrated in this approach are the objectives to enhance environmental, economic, social and nutritional health. ECTAP currently works in the fruit, vegetable, livestock and dairy, poultry as well as honey value-chains. These efforts are being funded by the EU.
The ECTAP initiative for improved genetics of livestock is a great example of our work. We connect Tajik farms with international providers of high quality technology and best practices to improve fodder production, feeding practices, animal nutrition, as well as management of genetic material. We also, implement trainings in dairies and agricultural advisory services in all areas of food safety, health and certification for local farmers. Last but not least, we support financial institutions in designing investment loan products for farmers and agribusinesses working in animal husbandry and establishing a grant-funding scheme for the co-financing of investments.
Sustainable World Academy
Faires und umweltbewusstes Wachstum – diese Prinzipien kennzeichnen die Angebote der FS Sustainable World Academy (SWA). Die Sustainable World Academy entwickelt Fach-, Aus- & Weiterbildungskurse zur Förderung der UN-Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung, auch bekannt als „UN Sustainable Development Goals“ oder kurz „SDGs“. Profund und praxisnah vermitteln unsere Kurse jenes Know-How und jene Fähigkeiten, die in den Bereichen Finanzen und Management für die Gestaltung einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung gefragt sind. Bankiers, Mikrofinanzfachleute, politisch Entscheidungsträger*innen, Studierende und Unternehmen profitieren von unserer Expertise, sobald sie die Bedeutung des Themas Nachhaltigkeit erkannt haben.
Frankfurt School - UNEP Collaborating Centre for Climate & Sustainable Energy Finance
The FS-UNEP Collaborating Centre for Climate and Renewable Energy Finance (the Centre) is a strategic cooperation between the United Nations Environment (formerly United Nations Environment Programme / UNEP) and the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management. It is committed to facilitating essential structural changes in climate mitigation and adaptation, including various topics within the scope of climate and sustainable finance, most prominently energy supply and use as well as climate change resilience, sustainable finance and disaster risk management.
The Centre combines project implementation on the ground with think tank activities. Its work is cutting edge: the team of expert’s experiments with new financial mechanisms and implements cutting edge projects, informs policy development and changes the way the financial industry operates. The primary objective is to mobilize significantly increased levels of sustainable energy and climate finance, bridging the public-private sector gap and thereby contributing to the development of a global green economy.
As a think-and-do tank combining research, education and project implementation, the Centre is in a position to combine academic know-how with practical project experience. This maximizes lessons learnt, allowing developing countries to leapfrog from their current status to leading global solutions.
Global Trends Report (GTR)
The Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment report (GTR) was first published by the Frankfurt School–UNEP Collaborating Centre for Climate & Sustainable Energy Finance (in cooperation with Bloomberg New Energy Finance) in 2011. It grew out of efforts to track and publish comprehensive information about international investments in renewable energy.
The latest edition of this authoritative annual report tells the story of the most recent developments, signs and signals in the financing of renewable power and fuels. It explores the issues affecting each type of investment, technology and type of economy.
Green Climate Fund Readiness Programme (GCF)
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a financial mechanism that intends to provide financing for climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. This fund differs significantly from others as it applies the principle of country ownership - GCF’s activities are aligned with the development agenda of each developing country and not the other way around.
The Green Climate Fund Readiness Programme builds countries' capacity to access the Green Climate Fund, through preparing countries to plan for, manage, disburse and monitor climate financing. The Centre strengthened the institutional capacities of national climate finance institutions in several countries such as Benin, Colombia, Ghana and the Philippines through trainings, market assessments and feasibility studies.
Seed Capital Assistance Facility (SCAF)
The Seed Capital Assistance Facility (SCAF) is implemented through the United Nations Environment Programme and managed by the FS-UNEP Centre. The Facility supports clean energy investment funds and development companies in seed financing early-stage clean energy projects.
Numerous barriers inhibit private sector financing of low-carbon projects in developing countries. During the early stage of development, projects carry a significant risk that is reduced only once all permits have been secured and legal, operational and financial viability has been demonstrated.
SCAF addresses this financing gap by providing financial support on a cost-sharing and co-financing basis to low-carbon projects via private equity (PE) funds, venture capital (VC) funds and project development companies (DevCos). Funding for the second phase of SCAF is contributed by the Department for International Development which leads the United Kingdom’s work to end extreme poverty and by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, under its International Climate Initiative.
finance fit for Paris (3fp) Tracker
Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) Germany and Frankfurt School – UNEP Collaborating Centre for Climate & Sustainable Energy Finance (FS-UNEP Centre) have been developing the financial regulation tracker finance fit for Paris (3fP).
The Paris Agreement, formulated at the COP21 in Paris, sets the ambitious target to hold temperature increase well below 2°. Furthermore it aims to make “finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development”.
3fP is addressing this paragraph and assesses whether financial regulations and policies in a given jurisdiction support the low carbon transition and greening of financial markets or not. This tool is meant to inform a wider range of target audiences related to this subject that is often perceived to be technical and inaccessible to non-experts. The results should inspire discussions between civil society, regulators and market participants and help by finding pathways and concrete actions for greening the financial system.
"We train future managers who have to find answers to the difficult questions of our time. In view of economic, ecological and political crises, sustainability and social responsibility play an increasingly important role for the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management."
"In practice and research, development policy is currently dominated by Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our goal as International Advisory Services is to support our partners in combating poverty and hunger, improving education, promoting gender equality and strengthening women's rights, and protecting the environment and climate."
"Nachhaltigkeit ist ein wichtiges Thema in der Forschung der Frankfurt School. Professorinnen und Professoren forschen etwa zur Finanzierung von klimafreundlichen Investitionen, Armutsbekämpfung durch Mikrokredite, den Nachhaltigkeits-Präferenzen großer Investoren, und zur nachhaltigen Nutzung natürlicher Ressourcen."
"Das Pariser Klimaabkommen und die globalen Nachhaltigkeitsziele spielen eine zunehmende Rolle auch für die Finanzwirtschaft. Die Frankfurt School unterstützt den Übergang zu einem nachhaltigen Finanzsektor als Gründungsmitglied und Heimat des Green and Sustainable Finance Clusters Germany durch angewandte Forschung und Praxiszusammenarbeit."
"Frankfurt School has a clear understanding of its role as a globally responsible citizen and its contribution to ethics and sustainability. This is reflected in the School’s policies and procedures, curricula and research, and advisory activities. The School’s triple crown accreditations along with its pledge to the United Nations’ Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) verify its commitment to address, engage and respond to current and emerging corporate social responsibility issues."
"Questions of sustainability and ethical conduct are, of course, also integrated into our Executive Education and academic programmes. Our bachelor students learn to act sustainably and responsibly. In our AI research and the associated Master's programme, we ask the question of how ethics and artificial intelligence fit together."
Executive Education
Certified Expert in Sustainable Finance
Reflecting sustainability criteria, especially climate change, in financial markets is increasingly gaining attention as opportunities and risks arising in this context are changing business practices.
The course will prepare participants to understand major drivers and constraints of transforming the financial system to a more sustainable one. Furthermore, it will familiarize participants with the business, regulatory and technical perspective of sustainable finance and will acquaint them to take an active part in the discussion around the topic.
Renewable Energy Finance Certificate Programme
Wind energy, solar energy, photovoltaics, biomass, geothermal energy and hydropower - the renewable energy market is growing and growing. For financial service providers and investors, the financing of renewable energy is therefore a promising business area. Anyone who wants to make a success of such a financing project needs in-depth knowledge of economics, business, law, engineering and banking.
The interdisciplinary certificate programme "Renewable Energy Finance" covers the entire range of renewable energy financing issues and highlights these from the point of view of both the project developer as well as the financier.
Financing renewable energy
Participants learn about current developments in renewable energy and discuss financing forms, cash flow projections, profitability and critical success factors. From practice, they learn about stumbling blocks in structuring contracts and in negotiations.
The target group consists of specialists and executives from the area of financing, credit analysis and credit risk, as well as corporate account managers and sales staff who are involved in the evaluation and financing of EEG projects.
Certified Expert in Climate Adaptation Finance
Climate change will have a profound impact on countries and economies. Businesses, small and large, are affected; investors face increased risks, something also observed by the insurance industry.
Governments are required to respond too, and do so in different ways: they provide adaptation planning and some (often public) infrastructure, but they also play a key role in providing a policy environment that facilitates the response measures by all stakeholders in the economy. Essential for this course is that most of these response measures – adaptation measures - require investment. There is a tremendous spectrum from small enterprises to corporates up to larger private or public infrastructure projects seeking climate adaptation finance.
Certified Expert in Climate & Renewable Energy Finance
This e-learning course is developed and implemented jointly with the Frankfurt School - UNEP Collaborating Cente.
The Paris Agreement marks the beginning of a new era with the focus shifting from finding a consensus on the common goals to realising jointly agreed goals. “Making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development” (Article 2 c of the Paris Agreement) will require a significant increase in funding – with new instruments and approaches required to mobilize a broad range of investors and to achieve scalability in financing climate action. Financing the global energy transition will be one key building block.
News
10.02.2021 12:00:00
New advisory approach to sustainable finance policy
FS and GIZ develop approach for developing countries and emerging economies
14.01.2021 12:00:00
Launch of UN Adaptation Gap Report 2020 in Cooperation with FS
Stronger Global Commitment is Needed to Meet Climate Goals
06.02.2020 12:00:00
Frankfurt School partners with FUTURY to support young talents with entrepreneurial spirit
_Header.jpg)
29.05.2019 12:00:00
More progress needed to align financial markets with the goals of the Paris Agreement
04.12.2018 12:00:00
How education can support the Paris Climate Goals
Certified Expert in Sustainable Finance at Frankfurt School
24.08.2018 12:00:00
Green and Sustainable Finance Cluster Germany releases baseline report
Mobilising the finance sector for climate protection and sustainable investment
05.07.2018 12:00:00
Climate Check for the Financial Markets
Frankfurt School and WWF Germany develop track the climate impacts of the financial system
25.06.2018 12:00:00
Frankfurt School strengthens sustainability on its new campus
Official start for business school´s bee project
Events
Jahreskonferenz Renewable Energy
Die Jahreskonferenz "Renewable Energy" gibt einen umfassenden Überblick über die neuesten politischen Rahmenbedingungen und Marktentwicklungen sowie neue Tendenzen bei der Finanzierung und Bewertung von Großprojekten in erneuerbaren Energien.
In Fachvorträgen, Podiumsdiskussion und Praxisbeiträgen beleuchten unsere Experten die unterschiedlichen Aspekte des Themas und geben wertvolle Tipps. Abgerundet wird das Programm durch Roundtables und eine Inspirationsplattform. Hier greift die Konferenz innovative Trends auf und diskutiert den Umbruch der alten Strukturen und Denkweisen in der Energiewirtschaft.
Themen der 11. Konferenz am 19. April 2018 waren u.a.:
- Smart City
- Future Energy & Mobility
- Intelligentes Energiemanagement
- IT-Sicherheit
Climate & Sustainable Energy Finance Summer Academy
The Summer Academy gives participants the chance to take a leading role in the climate finance story. Participants complete core coursework on the linkages between public and private sector finance, the impact of recent international climate negotiations as well as policies and sources of financing to scale up and unlock climate finance. During the summer academy participants are guided through the risks and barriers to private investment in climate finance, and learn to assess the financial viability of investments as well as the impact of public support instruments. Moreover, technical issues are part of the programme, with participants building up a toolbox of practical knowledge on RE project finance to ultimately build their own financial model.
Jahreskonferenz Nachhaltige Geldanlagen
Die Fachkonferenz hat sich als jährlicher Branchenevent für nachhaltig interessierte Anlageberater und institutionelle Investoren etabliert.
Die Berücksichtigung von ESG Aspekten in der Kapitalanlage legt nicht nur in der Breite zu, sondern verbessert sich auch qualitativ. Investoren gehen inzwischen über einen reinen Ausschluss kontroverser Branchen hinaus und integrieren Nachhaltigkeit zunehmend in ihre gesamte Anlagestrategie.
Robert Bosch Junior Professorship
Today’s global economy is based on the overuse of natural resources. The economist Dr. Oliver Schenker develops models that give developing countries the opportunity to establish sustainable energy systems. With the Robert Bosch Junior Professorship "Sustainable Use of Renewable Natural Resources" the Foundation provides him with one million Euro over five years for his research.
As a Robert Bosch Junior Professor, Dr. Oliver Schenker will be dealing with the effects of climate and environmental policy instruments in emerging and developing countries. In particular, he will be investigating the reciprocal effects between policy instruments and their resilience to external shocks.
The goal of Dr. Schenker’s research is to identify options for shaping energy and climate policies that can guide and control the necessary development of the energy systems in emerging and developing countries to becoming sustainable and low-carbon societies.
Source: https://www.bosch-stiftung.de
Academic Programmes
Our academic programmes also offer courses on renewable energy. Professor Moslener offers electives in the subjects of Master of Finance and Bachelor of Science, which provide our students with information on the growing field of renewable energies.
Sustainability at the new campus
As only property used for mixed purposes (offices and university) in Germany, Frankfurt School's new campus has been awarded the platinum seal by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB). To get this award, a building has to meet the highest standards not only regarding its ecobalance and the responsible use of resources, but also concerning indoor air quality, design for all and thermic comfort.
Frankfurt School has invested in renewable energies as part of the construction of its new campus. A solar system with an area of 336 m² on the roof provides the campus with up to 57,000 kWh per year. In addition, there is a small wind turbine generating approximately 10,000 kWh per year.
To stabilise the ecosystem in the urban area and to support the preservation of vegetation and biodiversity, the Frankfurt School has placed bees on its site. 4 beehives produce 20 kg of honey each year.
Our Campus on Adickesallee has modern technology that uses resources sparingly. In addition to a combined heat and power plant, which alone covers 33 % of the total Frankfurt School electricity requirement, the building also has a reversible heat pump and a gas fired condensing boiler for heating and cooling.
The screw compressor, heat exchanger and cooling unit efficiently use the energy required to heat and cool the premises. The lighting system with presence detectors in public areas, in combination with LED lighting and corresponding control via a BUS system, saves resources and is sustainable for the environment.
The roof of the listed and historic petrol station on the site will continue to be used as a petrol station roof. Now, however, in the form of an innovative quick charging station for electric vehicles. The e-filling station is equipped with 2 charging stations for e-cars in the outdoor area, 2 charging stations in the garage and 3 charging stations (230V) for e-bikes.