Seminar «Impact Finance – Climate Transition»
Would you like to understand what climate impact really means from the perspective of the financial sector – and the mechanisms that drive it?
In this two-day seminar, you will receive a concise introduction to the central concepts of impact finance – from defining and measuring impact to understanding the specific impact channels of different asset classes. You will also deepen your knowledge of the economic foundations of the climate transition and gain clear insights into current requirements for disclosure, product design, and client communication.
Together with other participants and guided by experienced practitioners, you will conclude the seminar by developing a fictitious impact finance investment or financing product.
At a glance
Completion: Seminar confirmation
Dates: June 15th/16th 2026, virtual 2-hour kick-off meeting approx. 2 weeks before the seminar with preparatory assignment
Costs: CHF 1’480
Location: Campus ZHAW School of Management and Law, Winterthur
Language of instruction: English
Objectives and Content
Target audience
- Investment professionals, wealth and asset managers
- Institutional investors
- Advisors and consultants
- Entrepreneurs
- Political decision-makers
Goals
The seminar Impact Finance – Climate Transition equips participants with the expertise needed to assess the role of the financial sector in climate transition in an informed, critical, and forward-looking manner. A solid theoretical foundation enables a sound understanding of current developments, while the strong practical focus fosters inspiring ideas and innovative, future-oriented financing strategies and solutions.
Content
- Impact finance in the context of sustainable finance
- What is impact? Introduction to theory of change
- Impact mechanisms across asset classes (real estate, public and private markets, debt capital)
- Methods of impact measurement
- Customer communication and avoiding impact washing
- Strategies & business case: climate change and fiduciary duty, risk-return considerations and product development
- Regulatory framework
- In-depth study of climate and energy systems
- Innovative financing mechanisms for climate solutions
- Impact-linked finance
- Blended finance
- Mezzanine financing
- Workshop: Development and pitch of your own impact finance product
Dates
June 15th/16th, 2026
In-person lessons from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Teachers
- Beat Affolter
- Julia Meyer
- Dominik Boos
- various practitioners to cover the perspectives of impact asset managers, impact networks, regulators, and energy companies.
Other linked modules
The seminar “Impact Finance – Climate Transition” is the first in a series of seminars on the topic of “Impact Finance” organized by the Impact Finance Lab. Other planned modules cover the following topics: Impact Finance – Real Estate; Impact Finance – Social Impact and Financial Inclusion; Impact Finance – Nature and Biodiversity; Impact Finance – Debt Financing.
