Module manager: Richard Itaman
Email: r.itaman@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as an Elective
This module explores the key concepts, theories and models in finance for sustainability and their implications. The module will analyse the initiatives on finance for sustainability within countries and at the global scale. It will equip students with rigorous analytical tools to understand the economic and political constraints faced by countries in securing and channelling finance towards sustainability development. The topics covered include theories of money, the monetary system, financial flows, financial instruments, the role of credit and debt, financing global public goods and environmental justice, sustainability metrics and measurement, and financial crises.
The aim of the module is to analyse the impact of different forms of financial flows on sustainable development and engage critically in debates on contemporary issues in finance for sustainability, including the role of government and international financial institutions.
This will be achieved through a blended learning approach that combines face-to-face lectures and seminars with online materials. The lectures will provide the conceptual background and ideas around each topic while the seminars are structured to challenge students to engage critically with contemporary debates on the subject by drawing on real world cases, data, news articles, blog posts and videos.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
SSLO1: Describe the monetary system
SSLO2: Apply theories of finance and interpret their implications for sustainability
SSLO3: Define sustainable finance and identify models of climate finance
SSLO4: Critically analyse the impact of different forms of financial flows on climate change mitigation and adaptation
SSLO5: Demonstrate critical engagement with contemporary debates on financing sustainability
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
SKLO1: Information and data gathering (Sustainability): Search for, evaluate and use appropriate and relevant information sources to help strengthen the quality of academic work and independent research.
SKLO2: Critical thinking (Sustainability): Question norms, practices and opinions; reflect on own values, perceptions and actions; take a position in the sustainable development discourse; apply evidence-based decision-making; reframe problems.
SKLO3: Systems thinking (Sustainability): Recognise and understand relationships; analyse complex systems (environmental, economic and social systems and interdependencies across these); consider how systems are embedded within different domains and scales; deal with uncertainty; use analytical thinking.
SKLO4: Problem solving (Work ready): Take a logical approach to solving problems; resolve issues by tackling from different angles, using both analytical and creative skills; understand, interpret, analyse and manipulate numerical data.
SKLO5: Academic writing (Academic): Write in a clear, concise, focused and structured manner that is supported by relevant evidence.
SKLO6: Collaboration (Sustainability): Understands and respects the needs, perspectives and actions of other stakeholders; apply inter and trans-disciplinarity to problem solving.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Lecture | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Seminar | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Private study hours | 125 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 25 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150 | ||
Seminars will be structured in group tasks and presentations that allows students to receive formative feedback on their arguments. Additionally, students will receive formative feedback on different aspects of their case study ahead of the summative assessment.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Coursework | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 29/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team