Skills

Banks and financial institutions have developed considerable expertise in structuring financial products that deliver attractive returns and meet sustainability standards. But the transition to more sustainable forms of investing doesn’t depend solely on the financial sector.

On the demand side, private and institutional investors have their part to play. To make it easier for them to choose sustainable investments, rules and definitions need to become more standardised. Second, training and education is key to maintaining the dynamism of the financial sector. Lastly, financial flows reflect what is happening in the economy more broadly. The challenge, therefore, is to promote a shared commitment and dialogue across the financial sector, government and civil society.

Geneva Financial Center

Sustainable finance is everyone's business!

Private- and public-sector players are determined to facilitate a more sustainable and competitive Swiss financial centre by adopting a conducive regulatory framework.

 

All these bodies agree on the following core principles and objectives: transparency, good governance, risk management (especially climate risk), the need for quality reporting, and the importance of training and education.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Geneva Financial Center

Education & training: Developing sustainable finance expertise

The Geneva financial centre owes its success in large part to its ability to attract the best talent. With a 12.9% share of the cantonal GDP and more than 38,000 jobs, the financial sector is a key player in the Geneva economy and labour market. Behind these numbers are the individuals whose expertise its success depends on. Their skills and knowledge need to be regularly updated to meet the needs of clients. Another priority for the financial centre is to ensure that the next generation acquire the skills they need to build a successful career. To recruit talented graduates, financial institutions must adopt business models that address their concerns.

Sustainable finance contributes significantly to the diversity of the Geneva financial centre and creates opportunities for current employees as well as young people entering the profession. Sustainability must be incorporated into educational programs at the secondary and university level, as well as in continuing and professional education.

 

Geneva Financial Center

Encourage excellence

As part of the revision of secondary professional education, modules on sustainable finance have been added to the Federal Certificate of Proficiency (CFC) in Commercial Business/Banking Sector. The Haute école de gestion de Genève (HEG) already offers a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Sustainable Finance. The University of Geneva has offered a course on sustainable finance since 2011, as well as a graduate certificate in social responsibility and non-profits. The Institut Supérieur de Formation Bancaire (ISFB) has launched a Certificate in Sustainable Finance. Lastly, the SAQ Client Advisor Certificate, which is widely recognised as the industry standard, has strengthened the sustainability requirements since 2022.

Geneva Financial Center

Q&A

How can the economy become more sustainable?

Financial flows reflect what is happening in the economy more broadly. To make sustainability part of their investment decision-making, financial institutions need access to information about the companies they invest in. For many Swiss companies, however, information about sustainability is still lacking. Some guidance on how to fill this gap is provided by the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), the European Directive on the publication of non-financial information (Non-Financial Reporting Directive – NFRD) and the standards for sustainability reporting developed by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).

Geneva Financial Center