Masterclass in Sustainable Finance for Journalists
Course director: Sophie Robinson-Tillett, Senior Associate, Public and Third Sector Academy for Sustainable Finance.
About
Trillions of dollars of privately-run capital has been committed to Net Zero by 2050 and sweeping policy packages have been proposed all around the world to align economies with environmental and social objectives. Headlines about these commitments are now a daily occurrence – in the mainstream press as well as in specialist media. Journalists therefore play a critical role in advancing the sustainability agenda, both through their ability to report on, and hold to account financial markets and actors, but also as an instrument in providing credible and accessible information to their audiences. This masterclass is for non-financial journalists that are interested in covering efforts to decarbonise the economy and make financial markets more sustainable across the globe.
Format
x4 sessions of 90 minutes
Online
Dates
- 4- 25 March 2025
Fees
- Free
Applications
Places on this course are limited to those who have primary employment in journalism, but we may also consider candidates from other media and communication professions. Evidence of this may be requested and required.
To apply please complete the application form, for both individual and group bookings. We aim to respond within 10 working days of receipt of the application.
Objectives
By the end of this Masterclass participants will be able to:
- Identify key actors and outline their perspectives and motivations for engaging with sustainability issues.
- Understand how some of the big headlines we’re seeing in the media have much more nuanced stories behind them, and why it’s important to understand some of the tensions and competing interests at play as financial institutions try to integrate sustainability objectives into their strategies.
- Asses different types of greenwashing and analyse different efforts being made globally to get a handle on the sustainability claims being made by institutions, as well as examine ‘greenhushing’ and what that means for journalists and other stakeholders.
- Explain how the ‘just transition’ fits into the Paris Accord, how it impacts different countries and regions, and what investors and companies are doing to try and bake social considerations into their decarbonisation efforts
Masterclass Syllabus
Session one: The politicisation of ESG and sustainability
One of the biggest stories of 2023 was the ‘ESG pushback’ in the US, which saw politicians move to clamp down on ESG. Other politicians have sought to increase ESG efforts by forcing investors to divest from certain sectors. These political interventions are beginning to be seen elsewhere in the world, heightened by numerous looming elections. But what’s behind the headlines, and will the trend continue?
Session two: What is greenwashing?
It’s become one of the buzzwords of sustainable finance, and one of the most important areas for media scrutiny. But greenwashing is about more than just telling lies. As journalists, what do we need to keep in mind when looking out for greenwashing in the private sector?
Session three: Shareholder voting and AGM season
Each year, shareholders vote on important (and sometimes less important) sustainability issues at companies’ annual meetings. How does the process work? Who can file shareholder resolutions, and what might the results tell us? What are the trends to look out for in 2025?
Session four: Carbon offsets and the Voluntary Carbon Markets
Carbon offsetting is one of the most controversial areas of sustainability, and has made big headlines over the past 18 months. It’s also one of the fastest evolving areas. What are the arguments for and against the voluntary carbon markets, and how is the space evolving in response to media reports about greenwashing?
Download Course Brochure
OxSFG was established in 2012 and is a multidisciplinary research centre working to be the world’s best place for research and teaching on sustainable finance and investment. We work globally across asset classes, finance professions, and with different parts of the financial system.