Nowadays, terms such as “sustainability”, “sustainable finance”, “socially responsible investment”, “impact investment” and “ESG products” are frequently used, sometimes as interchangeable concepts. However, many differences exist between sustainable financial products and strategies, and a wrong or obscure use of such terminology could lead to misleading financial communication and a deflected public perception.

The course, developed by the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence on EU Sustainable Finance and Law (EUSFIL) aims to provide an introduction to sustainable finance, exploring the basic concepts, describing current developments and trends, but also discussing the main challenges to the growth of sustainable financial markets. The course will also provide basic knowledge on the different sustainable financial products and strategies, with a focus on the role of law in supporting the growth of sustainable finance in the EU.