Free course · 2026 curriculum
Sustainable Investing Certificate course
Start the 2026 Sustainable Investing Certificate curriculum with eight free video lessons on Learning Module 1, the complete 157-page module slide deck, eight sample questions and a 2026 update on what has changed since the curriculum was written. The certificate was formerly the CFA Institute Certificate in ESG Investing.
8video lessons
3h 6mteaching time
157course slides
8sample questions
New · 2026 update
Curriculum and regulatory updates
What changed in sustainable investing between 2023 and September 2026? This 28-minute supplementary lesson explains the latest position on ISSB and IFRS S1/S2, CSRD, UK sustainability labels, stewardship, Green Claims and official curriculum corrections. It complements the eight-part course below and is not an additional curriculum module.
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.
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
Try the Learning Module 1 sample
Work through eight selected multiple-choice questions, one from each lesson. Check the answer and full explanation after each submission; the complete practice bank remains in the App.
Continue in the app
All eight modules, free in CFA ESG Sustainable Prep.
The app carries the complete 2026 teaching course: 1,166 slides with recorded explanations, formulas, notes and study planning on Mac, iPhone and iPad. Selected questions and Mock Exam A are free.
Why we teach this way
Serious teaching first; paid practice only when you need it.
Dr Jiajing Sun has received generous educational support from CFA Institute over the years. This course is her way of passing that support forward and helping more people begin serious finance study without a large upfront cost.
The public lessons are a starting point. The CFA ESG Sustainable Prep app brings together the full teaching course, recorded lessons, knowledge summaries, slides and note-taking tools at no charge. The optional complete-practice purchase helps support the cost of developing and maintaining the course.
Find the current syllabus, registration and examination details on CFA Institute's certificate page.
Certificate FAQ
Sustainable Investing Certificate: common questions.
Quick answers on eligibility, study time, exam format and what the certificate represents. Always confirm current arrangements with CFA Institute before registering.
What is the Sustainable Investing Certificate?
It is a foundational professional certificate offered by CFA Institute. The curriculum develops a broad understanding of environmental, social and governance factors and how they can inform investment analysis, valuation, portfolio construction, stewardship and client reporting. It is a one-level certificate, not the CFA charter.
Is it the same as the former Certificate in ESG Investing?
Yes. CFA Institute renamed the Certificate in ESG Investing as the Sustainable Investing Certificate in April 2025. The current name reflects the certificate's wider focus on sustainable-investment decisions rather than a change into a separate qualification.
Do I need qualifications or work experience before registering?
No formal prerequisites are required. Familiarity with the investment process can be helpful, but CFA Institute describes this as a foundational certificate for people seeking a stronger understanding of ESG and sustainable investing.
How much study time should I allow?
CFA Institute recommends at least 100 hours of study. Candidates have six months from registration to study the curriculum and complete the exam, so it helps to plan backwards from the intended examination date.
What is the exam format?
The exam has 100 multiple-choice questions and lasts 2 hours and 20 minutes. It is delivered in English and must be completed within the six-month eligibility period. See the current CFA Institute exam information before scheduling.
Can I take the exam online?
CFA Institute offers online proctored testing and in-person site testing, subject to regional availability. Online candidates must meet the applicable identity, room, equipment, internet and proctoring requirements.
What topics does the certificate cover?
The curriculum moves from ESG markets and environmental, social and governance factors into stewardship, analysis, valuation, integration, portfolio construction, mandates, analytics and client reporting. It therefore covers both core concepts and their use in investment decisions.
Is the exam mainly about memorising ESG terminology?
No. Terminology matters, but candidates also need to understand how sustainability information can affect company and industry analysis, security valuation, portfolio choices, stewardship and reporting. Practice should test application as well as recall.
Is there a fixed passing score?
CFA Institute uses a Minimum Passing Score established through its standard-setting process. Candidates should not rely on an assumed fixed percentage as a guaranteed passing threshold.
Does passing make me a CFA charterholder?
No. The Sustainable Investing Certificate is separate from the CFA Program and CFA charter. It should be described accurately as a certificate issued by CFA Institute, not used as post-nominal letters or represented as the CFA designation.
Should I study only with third-party materials?
No. The official CFA Institute curriculum is the authoritative source for the exam. Independent videos, notes and question practice can make revision more structured, but they should supplement the current official materials rather than replace them.
Why this matters to us
A long-standing love of the natural world.
Dr Jiajing Sun has long cared deeply about nature and environmental protection. That concern is personal as well as academic: it led to research on carbon emissions, water resources, global supply chains and public policy, and to a continuing interest in how finance can support more responsible economic choices.
The Sustainable Investing course brings those parts of her work together. It is designed to help learners understand the evidence, recognise real trade-offs and examine environmental claims carefully rather than treating ESG as a collection of labels.
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.
Her research on carbon emissions, environmental policy and the water embedded in global supply chains informs the course. Her aim as an educator is to make that knowledge clear, useful and affordable, and to pass forward some of the support she received in her own professional 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) →Independence
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. The official CFA Institute curriculum is the authoritative source for the exam.