The Personal Finance Society (PFS) and Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) have joined forces with the newly-formed International Association for Sustainable Economy (IASE) to create environmental, social and governance qualifications meeting both UK and international standards.
The PFS will join the association’s board and the CII will join the academic committee to help to create the content for exams and CPD exploring environmental, social and corporate governance.
The IASE launched on 20 July with an aim to urge governments worldwide to align their economic aid and covid-19 recovery efforts with the latest climate science and to issue ESG certification to candidates with multiple professional profiles.
It expects to offer the certification of professionalism in ESG knowledge via official online exams during the fourth quarter of 2020.
The association will begin its activity with a presence in more than 25 countries, providing coverage and services to more than two-thirds of the world’s population.
Deepen sustainable development
Based in London, IASE is chaired by Javier Manzanares Allen, who currently holds the position of deputy executive director of the Green Climate Fund.
Allen said: “IASE seeks to be the reference in ESG at an international level that aspires to deepen the sustainable development of our society by certifying professionals in ESG matters and in an environment of continuous innovation.
“The association will initially have two types of certification, the first (International Sustainable Finance) aimed at the financial planning sector, with specialisations in the banking, insurance, savings banks and microfinance sector, and the second (International Sustainable Business) aimed at the business sector.”
Shape qualifications
The PFS and CII will be the international affiliate for the UK, Hong Kong, China, India and UAE.
Keith Richards, chief executive of the PFS and managing director for the CII, said: “ESG considerations have been growing in prominence within the institutional market for a good number of years and is increasingly prominent for the retail market and set to grow from a government, regulatory and investor perspective over the coming years.
“The IASE qualifications will be designed in collaboration with highly experienced ESG professionals from multiple geographies and sectors around the world and enable holders to demonstrate their technical competence through certification to international standards.
“We look forward to working with IASE to help shape qualifications that improve understanding of the different responsible investment approaches and the green finance market.”
International Adviser recently discussed whether the UK advice sector was ready for the ESG demand, and what was needed to prepare.
