DATES
Session 1: April 24, 2024 – 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Session 2: May 8, 2024 – 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Session 3: May 23, 2024 – 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Economics of Biodiversity and Natural Capital Markets
Micro-certificate
Deepen your knowledge of biodiversity risks and opportunities in sustainable finance with certification from the esteemed John Molson Executive Centre.
Designed by the Concordia Sustainability Ecosystem in collaboration with Addenda Capital and the Trottier Family Foundation, this program extensively examines the human and economic dependencies on nature from a finance practitioner’s lens, delving into the latest developments and best practices. Crafted by experts in sustainable finance, the Biodiversity Micro-Certificate imparts tangible knowledge and skills, empowering individuals to make meaningful contributions to biodiversity mitigation and hedging initiatives within their respective domains.
This program is best suited for sustainability employees and corporate investment professionals with a foundational grasp of ESG who are motivated to advance their career by acquiring cutting-edge knowledge in an evolving field.
Key takeaways
This program will enable you to:
- Define the relationships between climate, biodiversity, and human interaction
- Identify biodiversity risks and opportunities in various sectors
- Apply biodiversity assumptions to corporate performance and activities in the value chain
- Develop a biodiversity risk mitigation program for a financial portfolio
- Apply a biodiversity mitigation hierarchy in combination with a biodiversity offset program
Who benefits?
- Treasury professionals responsible for hedging programs
- Risk teams responsible for evaluating the biodiversity impact of their organization’s activities
- ESG, sustainable investing, and corporate sustainability teams involved in program management
- Corporate investment and finance professionals
- Portfolio managers, analysts, and traders who lack in-house ESG and sustainability support
- Investment consultants conducting due diligence
- Students looking to bolster their credentials and expand their professional network
- ESG and sustainability consultants looking to gain complementary knowledge, enhance their credentials, and expand their professional network
- Professional service providers such as law, accounting, and/or actuarial firms involved in sustainability advisory
Program structure
- Three in-person sessions of three hours each
- There will be dedicated periods for networking and discussion in each session
- There will be active learning opportunities through case study analysis and group work
To contribute to class discussions, debates, and group activities, participants are expected to complete assigned reading prior to class.
Session 1
Fundamentals of biodiversity, human interaction with biodiversity throughout history, corporate and investor dependence on biodiversity
Session 2
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, commitments, disclosure frameworks and financials
Session 3
Mitigation hierarchy, funding biodiversity, offsets vs. voluntary, definitions, process, characteristics of the markets, principles of credits, trading venues, products
Dates & fees
LANGUAGE
English
LOCATION
District 3 Innovation Hub: 1250 Guy St., 6th floor, Montreal, Quebec, H3H 2L3
FEE
Early bird fee: $995 CAD (+taxes) until April 3, 2024
Regular fee: $1,200 CAD (+taxes) as of April 4, 2024
Benefit from preferred rates by enrolling in at least four of our micro-certificates in sustainability. Employers can also unlock preferred rates by registering three or more members of their organization. Contact our program manager to explore our packages.
Faculty & experts
Experienced, passionate, innovative, our faculty members and experts are leaders in their field.
Jason Taylor, CFA, CAIA, MBA
Founder of Clariti Advisory and sustainable finance leader
Jason Taylor is a capital markets professional with over 20 years' experience. He is the founder of Clariti Advisory, a boutique sustainable investing and environmental finance firm. In recent years he led the development of the sustainable finance strategy for two Canadian banks working in close collaboration with groups across the bank and capital markets to design sustainable finance solutions for investors, corporates, and governments.
A frequent panelist and public speaker covering topics including transition finance, taxonomies, and sustainable finance regulation, Jason has also participated in a number of industry standard setting workstreams to accelerate the mainstreaming of sustainable finance in Canada. He is an advocate for using the power of capital to influence systemic change and contribute to building just, fair, and resilient communities. Experienced in ESG integration, thematic investing, and sustainable investing, his work focuses on crowding-in capital to shrink the funding gap in a financially efficient manner.
He completed an MBA focused in sustainability, collaboration, and innovation management at McGill/HEC Montreal, where he was named to the Poets & Quants 2019 100 best & Brightest list. He has completed certificate programs on topics including ESG reporting, ESG integration, climate finance, GHG accounting, and energy innovation. He is a CFA and CAIA charterholder.
His recent volunteering experience relates to mentoring student-athletes in the Parcours Leadership Carabins program at the University of Montreal founded by Robert Dutton, through the McConnell Foundation’s Solutions Finance Accelerator in 2020. Jason also coaches his sons' hockey and lacrosse teams, and serves as a board and investment committee member of the Foundation of Greater Montreal.
Micheline Ayoub, MSc, PhD
Executive director of Future Earth Canada
Micheline recently joined Future Earth Canada as the Executive Director of Sustainability in the Digital Age. She brings over 20 years' experience promoting science-based evidence and cutting-edge technology on a local and international scale. Micheline’s diverse career experience spans work with the federal government, private entities, and in academic research. Her expertise includes intellectual property, data management and governance, multi-stakeholder partnership development, and the use of AI for multi-omic data analysis in sustainable agriculture. She is known for her capacity to identify relevant synergies and forge effective partnerships with multiple national and international stakeholders based on cooperation and shared goals.
Bursary
One student from each of the five micro-certificate programs will be granted a bursary that covers half of the regular cost of tuition.
Submit your completed application form to jmec@concordia.ca to be considered for available bursaries.
Check out our FAQs to learn more.
FAQs
These programs will be conducted in person to provide students with an opportunity to participate in interactive group exercises that promote practical application, obtain direct feedback from instructors, and build connections through networking, all of which enhance their overall learning experience. Before the first session of each micro-certificate, students will participate in a 30-minute introductory networking session to connect with instructors and fellow classmates.
Students must actively participate in all three sessions to earn their certificate. To emphasize our skill-focused approach, we intentionally omitted a formal evaluation process to prioritize hands-on learning and real-world application.
Before each of the three micro-certificate sessions, students should allocate one to two hours for pre-reading. This will ensure they are fully prepared for hands-on class activities designed to maximize their learning experience.
Each micro-certificate was intentionally scheduled on a different date during the spring term to allow students to register for as many programs as they wish.
Yes, the John Molson Executive Centre will provide you with a certificate for each program you complete.
One student from each of the five micro-certificate programs will be granted a bursary that covers half of the regular cost of tuition. The bursary may not be withdrawn to pay for other expenses or transferred to other programs and courses at Concordia University. You must apply to be considered for available bursaries. Submission of an application does not guarantee a bursary offer. Should the recipient not complete all three sessions of their micro-certificate, the bursary will be forfeited.
The bursary is available for the 2024 spring term and will be granted to each of the five recipients at the latest three weeks before the start of their program.
Students must submit their completed application to jmec@concordia.ca to be considered for the bursary.
Bursary recipients are selected following an evaluation by the selection committee. One student from each of the five micro-certificate programs will be granted a bursary that covers half of the regular cost of tuition. Each application is considered and compared to its peers in the applicant pool. Applicants will be assessed based on the following criteria:
- Personal statement: Successful applicant will demonstrate how their experiences have shaped their hobbies, passions, or future aspirations.
- Career objectives statement: Successful applicants will describe their personal, academic, or career goals, demonstrating ambition, drive, and passion in their pursuit.
- Financial need: Successful applicants will explain the need for financial support to pursue their career objectives.
Following the adjudication period, each applicant will be notified of the results.
- Transition Finance and Climate Finance Frameworks: March 20, 2024
- ESG Fundamentals for Communication and Marketing Professionals: April 1, 2024
- Economics of Biodiversity and Natural Capital Markets: April 5, 2024
- Carbon Markets and the Economics of Carbon Removal: February 21, 2024
- Water Stewardship and Market Mechanisms: May 1, 2024
