Climate Change: Science, Stakeholders and Social Investment
As global climate challenges intensify, financial markets are playing an increasingly critical role in shaping the future of sustainability. Investors, companies, and policymakers are being asked to integrate climate metrics into decision-making, raising complex and often controversial questions about how capital is allocated across industries and how financial strategies impact the trajectory of climate change.
This Praxis Lab explored the intersection of climate change, capital markets, and investment decisions, addressing key questions such as:
- What does climate science reveal about the feasibility and impact of various economic and policy solutions?
- How do financial incentives influence corporate sustainability efforts?
- Should investors prioritize Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations in their portfolios?
- Do ESG scores and investment strategies meaningfully slow climate change?
Through research, case studies, and discussions with experts in finance, policy, and environmental science, students critically examined the role of financial institutions in mitigating climate change. The Lab culminated in a real-world project that analyzed a key issue at the intersection of finance and sustainability.
Instructors:
Dr. Jeffrey Coles
Samuel S. Stewart
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