Sustainable investing · Independent exam preparation
Prepare for the Sustainable Investing Certificate.
An independent preparation course and study app for CFA Institute's Sustainable Investing Certificate, formerly the Certificate in ESG Investing. Designed for candidates studying ESG investing, with a foundation in environmental economics research and CFA charterholder expertise.
Start with the free Learning Module 1 course: eight video lessons and 120 practice questions. The full study app is in development for iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Free course · 2026 curriculum
Free CFA ESG Exam Prep: Learning Module 1
Study Learning Module 1 of the 2026 Sustainable Investing Certificate curriculum through eight structured video lessons. The series covers the foundations of sustainable investing, financial materiality, market participants, major initiatives and the global regulatory landscape.
8video lessons
3h 6mtotal teaching time
120free practice questions
Macro Debate and Financial Materiality
Integration Challenges and ESG in Practice
Key Initiatives and Market Size
Market Drivers and Asset Owners
Asset Managers and Financial Services
Policymakers, Regulators and Other Participants
Global Regulation and Module Review
Test your understanding
Practice Learning Module 1
Put the lessons into practice with 120 original multiple-choice questions organised across eight topics. Choose a topic or try a mixed quiz, then check the answer and full explanation after each submission.
Certificate preparation
ESG investing, with a clear study purpose.
This course supports preparation for the Sustainable Investing Certificate, connecting environmental, social and governance factors with investment decisions.
Our founder's environmental research adds practical context to the learning. Find the current syllabus, registration and examination details on CFA Institute's certificate page.
Why this matters to us
A personal commitment to environmental protection.
For our founder, environmental protection is a personal commitment as well as a research interest. Her work on carbon emissions, water resources and public policy reflects a desire to understand how economic decisions affect the natural world, and how better evidence can support more responsible choices.
That commitment motivates this learning project: helping people engage thoughtfully with sustainability, understand the trade-offs and ask better questions about environmental claims.
Research and professional experience
Dr Jiajing Sun, CFA
The founder of JS Insights has held the CFA charter since 2013 and is a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (FIMA). Her work connects econometric methods with finance, environmental management and ecological economics.
Research interests include carbon emissions, environmental policy and the water embedded in global supply chains. These interests provide context for the app's approach to sustainability education.
Selected research
Environmental economics and management.
Selected co-authored publications and ongoing research by Dr Jiajing Sun.
Ecological Economics · 2026
Virtual water in global supply chains
Research on embodied water, trade structure, industrial composition and policy levers.
Journal of Environmental Management · 2022
Innovation, carbon emissions and the pollution haven hypothesis
Co-authored work examining innovation and emissions in the context of climate capitalism.
International Journal of Public Administration · 2024
Governmental capabilities and decarbonisation
Research into government capabilities, responsiveness and carbon emissions.
UK Parliament · March 2024
Written evidence on trade and net zero.
Dr Jiajing Sun co-authored written evidence NZT0001 with Dr Kailan Tian, Dr Weimin Jiang and Dr Michael Cole, published on the UK Parliament website. The submission discusses carbon leakage, emissions embedded in trade, innovation and carbon accounting, and offers recommendations for aligning trade policy with net-zero goals.
Read the parliamentary written evidence (PDF) →iPhone, iPad & Mac · In development
Continue with the full study app.
The full app is being developed for study across the remaining learning modules, with progress tracking, mock exams and the complete question bank. Download links and pricing will be added here at release.
Independent preparation by JS Insights. Not affiliated with, endorsed by or accredited by CFA Institute. CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.