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Certified Expert in Climate Adaptation Finance

Certificate Course

Your next career step starts here

Discover how to connect climate science with finance and investment. Build the knowledge and practical skills to understand adaptation finance, navigate policy frameworks, and create effective business models. Learn from investor perspectives, explore financing strategies, and apply resilience metrics, preparing you to help financial institutions align with the Paris Agreement and turn climate risks into opportunities.

Next start date

01 March 2026

Duration

6 Months

Language

English

Format

Online

Type of education

Certificate Course

Early Bird Price

€ 1600

Discover how to connect climate science with finance and investment. Build the knowledge and practical skills to understand adaptation finance, navigate policy frameworks, and create effective business models. Learn from investor perspectives, explore financing strategies, and apply resilience metrics, preparing you to help financial institutions align with the Paris Agreement and turn climate risks into opportunities.

Close-up of hands holding a pen and notebook during a meeting with laptops.

Your Benefits

This course gives you a deep understanding of how climate adaptation can be financed and how financial institutions can drive resilience.

  1. Learn how climate science connects to finance and how adaptation creates both risks and opportunities.
  2. Explore the fundamentals of adaptation finance, including business models, revenue streams and ownership structures.
  3. Gain insight into investor perspectives, financing strategies and innovative financial instruments.
  4. Understand resilience metrics and how to integrate climate-related risks into financial decision-making.
  5. Gain an accredited certification (6 ECTS credits)

Target group

This course is designed for professionals across the public and private sectors who want to play a leading role in climate adaptation finance. It is particularly relevant for entrepreneurs, project developers, private investors, fund managers, development finance specialists, manufacturers, engineers, and advisory professionals such as lawyers, consultants, and tax experts. It also speaks to finance professionals working in banks, insurers, asset management firms, investment funds, and regulatory bodies who need to integrate climate risks and adaptation strategies into decision-making, as well as policy-makers and representatives of international organisations shaping frameworks for climate resilience. No advanced background is required. While basic knowledge of banking and finance is helpful, the programme is designed to welcome diverse perspectives and professional experiences.
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DISCOUNTS

Register by 15 January 2026 and secure the early bird discount. Regular price after this date: EUR 1,900.

 

 DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE

  • Early bird discount (by January 15)
  • 10% group discount
  • 10% alumni discount

Contact us for combinable discounts

Register by 15 January 2026 and secure the early bird discount. Regular price after this date: EUR 1,900.

 

 DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE

  • Early bird discount (by January 15)
  • 10% group discount
  • 10% alumni discount

Contact us for combinable discounts

REGISTRATION

01 March 2026 - 31 August 2026

6 Months
€ 1600

REGISTRATION

01 March 2026 - 31 August 2026

6 Months
€ 1600

METHODOLOGY

Flexible Learning. Lasting Impact

Our self-paced, asynchronous online courses are built for professionals who want to upskill on their own time, without putting work on hold. Our courses deliver international expertise and hands-on tools you can apply immediately.
  • Flexible, study anytime, anywhere
  • Practical learning, real-world examples
  • Expert support when you need it
  • Optional live sessions (also recorded, of course)

Join a global community of professionals who are advancing their careers with flexible, high-quality learning.

CONTENTS

In the Certified Expert in Climate Adaptation Finance you’ll learn how to connect climate science with the practice of finance and investment. The programme introduces you to the fundamentals of adaptation finance and helps you understand the roles of both public and private actors. You’ll explore the barriers to financing and the policy frameworks that can address them, along with investor perspectives, financial instruments, business models, revenue streams, ownership structures, financing strategies and resilience metrics. By combining these elements, the course gives you a clear understanding of how financial institutions such as banks, insurers, asset managers, regulators and development organisations can align with the goals of the Paris Agreement while integrating climate-related risks into their decision-making.

COURSE OUTLINE

Unit 1

Climate change science – What is adaptation?

This introductory unit will present the science behind climate change and its physical impact, before moving on to discuss the impact of climate change on the economy.

It will explore economies need to adapt, addressing the question “what is climate adaptation”, providing the macro perspective of adaptation (UNFCCC definition of adaptation) before moving to the micro perspective of adaptation (what do economies/actors do to adapt?)

Unit 2

Climate science meets climate finance

The Unit will provide an overview of the climate finance landscape to understand the importance and relevance of adaptation and climate resilience in terms of scale and contribution to climate finance.

The Unit will explore the main building blocks of international adaptation-related policies, looking particularly at the Paris Agreement to anchor the role of the public sector and public support instruments and policies later in the course.

Unit 3

Coping with damages – the natural role of private and public sector actors

This Unit will provide an introductory overview of the natural roles of actors, presenting the interactions between private and public stakeholders, providing the basis for further analysis into adaptation finance.

Private actors must consider how business decisions will change in a changing environment, while public actors must decide how to moderate this structural change (e.g. providing policies, support, information, etc.). The Unit will also introduce the different types of investors and financial intermediaries and an understanding of their decision-making criteria and processes, to answer the overarching question: Why are companies investing in climate and sustainability?

Unit 4

Basics of finance and investment with a business model perspective on climate-resilient projects

This Unit will shift the focus towards the level of climate investments.

 Participants will gain a methodological understanding of financing at the project level, including how to assess the financial viability of an investment. There are crucial tools necessary to do this, and this unit will provide the basics of business models, finance, and investment, with a focus on investment calculations (including key terms, typical KPIs) and key specifics of business cases, with a reference to climate adaptation.

Unit 5

Barriers to adaptation finance and the role of support frameworks

This Unit explores why markets alone might fundamentally not be able to trigger adaptation investment in a way necessary to mitigate climate change.

It introduces market imperfections, or barriers, which may systematically keep adaptation projects from materialising. Once these barriers have been identified, there are a variety of options to tackle or overcome them, leading to efficient market outcomes. This guides you on how public finance or policy can facilitate private financial flows towards adaptation.

Unit 6

Building a business case for adaptation

In the previous Units, we explore the broader context and regulatory frameworks surrounding adaptation/climate resilient projects.

This Unit will narrow the focus, introducing the process of analysing new adaptation business model, or adjusting existing business models, to increase the climate resilience of their portfolio.  Part I will first introduce the rationale for a private actor to invest, building on Unit 4 and will then provide a deep-dive into understanding adaptation business models and the proposition behind them, what kind of business models we observe in adaptation/climate resilience, the investors and the type of financial instruments used.  Part II will provide an overview of the broad variety of adaptation business cases, analysing a selection of case studies on different adaptation/climate resilient projects to conduct an in-depth analysis of their characteristics. In this way, we will build a business case from the perspective of a project developer.

Unit 7

Investment opportunities from the perspective of private financiers

This Unit will provide an overview of what sources of financing are available to finance adaptation business models, building on those analysed in Unit 6.

It will link to the overview of financing structures given in Unit 4 and build up knowledge on investment opportunities from the perspective of private financiers, answering the question: who invests in these (adaptation) business models and how?

Unit 8

Financing the business model – financial instruments

Following on from sources of finance, this Unit will focus on instruments available to private actors to invest in climate adaptation activities, including ‘innovative’ instruments and blended finance.
Unit 9

Climate Resilience and Risk Metrics and Indicators*

Explore climate risks and resilience metrics, looking at how to define metrics that are measureable, computable and comparable, which include both mean and variability, recent past, current trends and projection of risks.

COURSE OUTLINE

Unit 1

Climate change science – What is adaptation?

This introductory unit will present the science behind climate change and its physical impact, before moving on to discuss the impact of climate change on the economy.

It will explore economies need to adapt, addressing the question “what is climate adaptation”, providing the macro perspective of adaptation (UNFCCC definition of adaptation) before moving to the micro perspective of adaptation (what do economies/actors do to adapt?)

Unit 2

Climate science meets climate finance

The Unit will provide an overview of the climate finance landscape to understand the importance and relevance of adaptation and climate resilience in terms of scale and contribution to climate finance.

The Unit will explore the main building blocks of international adaptation-related policies, looking particularly at the Paris Agreement to anchor the role of the public sector and public support instruments and policies later in the course.

Unit 3

Coping with damages – the natural role of private and public sector actors

This Unit will provide an introductory overview of the natural roles of actors, presenting the interactions between private and public stakeholders, providing the basis for further analysis into adaptation finance.

Private actors must consider how business decisions will change in a changing environment, while public actors must decide how to moderate this structural change (e.g. providing policies, support, information, etc.). The Unit will also introduce the different types of investors and financial intermediaries and an understanding of their decision-making criteria and processes, to answer the overarching question: Why are companies investing in climate and sustainability?

Unit 4

Basics of finance and investment with a business model perspective on climate-resilient projects

This Unit will shift the focus towards the level of climate investments.

 Participants will gain a methodological understanding of financing at the project level, including how to assess the financial viability of an investment. There are crucial tools necessary to do this, and this unit will provide the basics of business models, finance, and investment, with a focus on investment calculations (including key terms, typical KPIs) and key specifics of business cases, with a reference to climate adaptation.

Unit 5

Barriers to adaptation finance and the role of support frameworks

This Unit explores why markets alone might fundamentally not be able to trigger adaptation investment in a way necessary to mitigate climate change.

It introduces market imperfections, or barriers, which may systematically keep adaptation projects from materialising. Once these barriers have been identified, there are a variety of options to tackle or overcome them, leading to efficient market outcomes. This guides you on how public finance or policy can facilitate private financial flows towards adaptation.

Unit 6

Building a business case for adaptation

In the previous Units, we explore the broader context and regulatory frameworks surrounding adaptation/climate resilient projects.

This Unit will narrow the focus, introducing the process of analysing new adaptation business model, or adjusting existing business models, to increase the climate resilience of their portfolio.  Part I will first introduce the rationale for a private actor to invest, building on Unit 4 and will then provide a deep-dive into understanding adaptation business models and the proposition behind them, what kind of business models we observe in adaptation/climate resilience, the investors and the type of financial instruments used.  Part II will provide an overview of the broad variety of adaptation business cases, analysing a selection of case studies on different adaptation/climate resilient projects to conduct an in-depth analysis of their characteristics. In this way, we will build a business case from the perspective of a project developer.

Unit 7

Investment opportunities from the perspective of private financiers

This Unit will provide an overview of what sources of financing are available to finance adaptation business models, building on those analysed in Unit 6.

It will link to the overview of financing structures given in Unit 4 and build up knowledge on investment opportunities from the perspective of private financiers, answering the question: who invests in these (adaptation) business models and how?

Unit 8

Financing the business model – financial instruments

Following on from sources of finance, this Unit will focus on instruments available to private actors to invest in climate adaptation activities, including ‘innovative’ instruments and blended finance.
Unit 9

Climate Resilience and Risk Metrics and Indicators*

Explore climate risks and resilience metrics, looking at how to define metrics that are measureable, computable and comparable, which include both mean and variability, recent past, current trends and projection of risks.

COURSE OUTLINE

Unit 1

Climate change science – What is adaptation?

This introductory unit will present the science behind climate change and its physical impact, before moving on to discuss the impact of climate change on the economy.

It will explore economies need to adapt, addressing the question “what is climate adaptation”, providing the macro perspective of adaptation (UNFCCC definition of adaptation) before moving to the micro perspective of adaptation (what do economies/actors do to adapt?)

Unit 2

Climate science meets climate finance

The Unit will provide an overview of the climate finance landscape to understand the importance and relevance of adaptation and climate resilience in terms of scale and contribution to climate finance.

The Unit will explore the main building blocks of international adaptation-related policies, looking particularly at the Paris Agreement to anchor the role of the public sector and public support instruments and policies later in the course.

Unit 3

Coping with damages – the natural role of private and public sector actors

This Unit will provide an introductory overview of the natural roles of actors, presenting the interactions between private and public stakeholders, providing the basis for further analysis into adaptation finance.

Private actors must consider how business decisions will change in a changing environment, while public actors must decide how to moderate this structural change (e.g. providing policies, support, information, etc.). The Unit will also introduce the different types of investors and financial intermediaries and an understanding of their decision-making criteria and processes, to answer the overarching question: Why are companies investing in climate and sustainability?

Unit 4

Basics of finance and investment with a business model perspective on climate-resilient projects

This Unit will shift the focus towards the level of climate investments.

 Participants will gain a methodological understanding of financing at the project level, including how to assess the financial viability of an investment. There are crucial tools necessary to do this, and this unit will provide the basics of business models, finance, and investment, with a focus on investment calculations (including key terms, typical KPIs) and key specifics of business cases, with a reference to climate adaptation.

Unit 5

Barriers to adaptation finance and the role of support frameworks

This Unit explores why markets alone might fundamentally not be able to trigger adaptation investment in a way necessary to mitigate climate change.

It introduces market imperfections, or barriers, which may systematically keep adaptation projects from materialising. Once these barriers have been identified, there are a variety of options to tackle or overcome them, leading to efficient market outcomes. This guides you on how public finance or policy can facilitate private financial flows towards adaptation.

Unit 6

Building a business case for adaptation

In the previous Units, we explore the broader context and regulatory frameworks surrounding adaptation/climate resilient projects.

This Unit will narrow the focus, introducing the process of analysing new adaptation business model, or adjusting existing business models, to increase the climate resilience of their portfolio.  Part I will first introduce the rationale for a private actor to invest, building on Unit 4 and will then provide a deep-dive into understanding adaptation business models and the proposition behind them, what kind of business models we observe in adaptation/climate resilience, the investors and the type of financial instruments used.  Part II will provide an overview of the broad variety of adaptation business cases, analysing a selection of case studies on different adaptation/climate resilient projects to conduct an in-depth analysis of their characteristics. In this way, we will build a business case from the perspective of a project developer.

Unit 7

Investment opportunities from the perspective of private financiers

This Unit will provide an overview of what sources of financing are available to finance adaptation business models, building on those analysed in Unit 6.

It will link to the overview of financing structures given in Unit 4 and build up knowledge on investment opportunities from the perspective of private financiers, answering the question: who invests in these (adaptation) business models and how?

Unit 8

Financing the business model – financial instruments

Following on from sources of finance, this Unit will focus on instruments available to private actors to invest in climate adaptation activities, including ‘innovative’ instruments and blended finance.
Unit 9

Climate Resilience and Risk Metrics and Indicators*

Explore climate risks and resilience metrics, looking at how to define metrics that are measureable, computable and comparable, which include both mean and variability, recent past, current trends and projection of risks.

STUDY JOURNEY

Step
01

Register

The course starts twice a year, on 1 March and 1 September
Step
02

Participate

6 months, 100% online, self-pace, self-study, few deadlines
Step
03

Pass the Exam

Online, offered twice a year
Step
04

Get Certified

Receive your e-certificate

MODULE OF

ONLINE

Master of Leadership in Sustainable Finance

Recognised as elective module

Benefit from an Alumni discount and have the course credited when you continue to the Master of Leadership in Sustainable Finance.

BLENDED

Diploma in Green Finance

Recognised as core module

Benefit from an Alumni discount and have the course credited when you continue to the Diploma in Green Finance.

BLENDED

Diploma in Financial Inclusion

Recognised as elective module

Benefit from an Alumni discount and have the course credited when you continue to the Diploma in Financial Inclusion.

BLENDED

Diploma in Risk Management

Recognised as elective module

Benefit from an Alumni discount and have the course credited when you continue to the Diploma in Risk Management.

MODULE OF

ONLINE

Master of Leadership in Sustainable Finance

Recognised as elective module

Benefit from an Alumni discount and have the course credited when you continue to the Master of Leadership in Sustainable Finance.

BLENDED

Diploma in Green Finance

Recognised as core module

Benefit from an Alumni discount and have the course credited when you continue to the Diploma in Green Finance.

BLENDED

Diploma in Financial Inclusion

Recognised as elective module

Benefit from an Alumni discount and have the course credited when you continue to the Diploma in Financial Inclusion.

BLENDED

Diploma in Risk Management

Recognised as elective module

Benefit from an Alumni discount and have the course credited when you continue to the Diploma in Risk Management.

MODULE OF

ONLINE

Master of Leadership in Sustainable Finance

Recognised as elective module

Benefit from an Alumni discount and have the course credited when you continue to the Master of Leadership in Sustainable Finance.

BLENDED

Diploma in Green Finance

Recognised as core module

Benefit from an Alumni discount and have the course credited when you continue to the Diploma in Green Finance.

BLENDED

Diploma in Financial Inclusion

Recognised as elective module

Benefit from an Alumni discount and have the course credited when you continue to the Diploma in Financial Inclusion.

BLENDED

Diploma in Risk Management

Recognised as elective module

Benefit from an Alumni discount and have the course credited when you continue to the Diploma in Risk Management.

Download key programme information

Download your brochure now to explore the programme and learn how Frankfurt School can support your professional journey.

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Aleksandra Przybylska

Programme Coordinator

e-campus@fs.de 

CONTACT US