Climate Literacy: Preparing finance graduates for a changing market

A/Prof Shahriar Abu Zafar and Dr Nafisa Ovi, 2026

Purpose

Climate change is fundamentally reshaping financial markets, yet climate issues remain peripheral in many finance curricula. Abu Zafar Shahriar and Nafisa Ovi set out to embed climate literacy directly into finance education, equipping future professionals to understand climate-related financial risk.

Practice

The team developed a research-informed climate literacy module and embedded it across undergraduate finance units, using interactive multimedia, real-world finance examples, simulation-based learning and active learning activities, evaluated through pre- and post-implementation student surveys.

Output

Delivered to more than 1,200 undergraduate finance students, the module produced significant improvements in climate-related knowledge, attitudes and behavioural engagement.

Outcome

On this evidence, the Department of Banking and Finance embedded the module into the capstone units of the Bachelor of Finance and Bachelor of Banking and Finance, and it has since been adopted in a postgraduate accounting capstone unit, extending its reach across disciplines and levels.

Impact

The project offers an evidence-based model for integrating sustainability into business education, equipping future finance and accounting professionals to tackle climate-related challenges while generating genuine scholarship of teaching and learning.