Frankfurt, April 22, 2025
The European Federation of Financial Analysts Societies (EFFAS) in collaboration with Marsh McLenann, proudly announces the launch of the EFFAS Climate Risk Analyst (ECRA) certification, developed to meet the urgent demand for skilled professionals capable of identifying, evaluating, and managing climate-related financial risks.
As the financial sector faces increasing exposure to both physical risks—such as floods, heatwaves, storms—and transition risks arising from evolving climate policies, technologies, and market expectations, the need for advanced climate risk expertise has never been greater. ECRA addresses this challenge head-on with a curriculum that merges scientific foundations, financial modelling, and regulatory insights to empower finance professionals to drive sustainable transformation.
“ECRA represents the next pivotal step in EFFAS’ long-standing commitment to advancing sustainable finance education,” said Dr. Jesús López Zaballos, Chairman of EFFAS. “We are proud to deliver a high-quality, forward-looking programme in collaboration with Marsh McLennan, a globally recognized authority on risk and strategy. Together, we are helping shape a new generation of financial professionals equipped to transform climate challenges into resilient strategies and responsible investment opportunities.”
“Understanding climate risk is now a business imperative. The ECRA certification is designed to prepare professionals to meet the challenges of a climate-impacted financial system and lead the shift toward a more resilient economy,” said Swenja Surminski, Climate and Sustainability Managing Director at Marsh McLennan, and lead on the ECRA development team. “The ability to assess climate risk is not just about compliance—it’s about future-proofing strategy, investment, and value creation.”
Developed with insights from leading climate scientists, regulators, and finance experts ECRA offers an advanced, practice-oriented education with nine in-depth modules. Topics include:
- Climate science and scenario analysis
- Global regulatory frameworks
- Physical and transition risk modelling and quantification
- Financial implications of Net Zero transitions
- Green finance and investment opportunities
- Climate risk assessment across asset classes
“The knowledge and analytical tools offered through ECRA enable professionals to make better-informed decisions, enhance institutional resilience, and unlock opportunities in the evolving green economy,” said Prof. Dr. Emmanuele Campiglio, Academic Director of ECRA.
Building on over a decade of leadership in sustainable finance education, EFFAS is once again setting the global standard with the launch of the ECRA certification. Following the remarkable success of its Certified ESG Analyst (CESGA) programme—which has become a benchmark qualification for ESG integration worldwide—EFFAS now introduces ECRA as a strategic next step. This new certification reflects EFFAS’ unique, holistic framework and continued innovation in the field. ECRA is specifically designed for finance professionals, ESG managers, risk analysts, sustainability leaders, and investment specialists seeking to deepen their expertise in climate risk and play a leading role in the transition to a more sustainable and resilient financial system.
Whether working within asset management, banking, insurance, or corporate strategy, participants will gain practical tools to assess and integrate climate-related risks and opportunities into their financial decision-making processes. —seeking to lead the integration of climate risk into financial decision-making. – “Addressing climate risk in finance requires a deep understanding of greenhouse gas emissions and their systemic implications,” said Prof. Dr. Alexander Bassen, Academic Director of CESGA. “ECRA equips professionals with the analytical skills to assess carbon exposure across portfolios and integrate emissions data into strategic decision-making—an essential step for aligning investments with global climate goals and achieving Net Zero targets.”
Climate change is not only transforming weather patterns and increasing the frequency of extreme events—it is fundamentally reshaping the financial risk landscape. From disrupted supply chains and increased operational costs to shifting regulations and accelerated green investment flows, climate-related risks and opportunities now directly influence asset valuation, corporate strategy, and long-term financial performance. The ECRA certification equips professionals to navigate this new reality—integrating climate risk into decision-making and leading the way in sustainable finance.
Registration is now open, with the first cohort commencing later this year. Detailed information on programme structure, eligibility, and enrolment is available at: https://effas.com/professional-certificates/effas-climate-risk-analyst-ecra/
About EFFAS
EFFAS is a Not-for-profit organisation set up in 1962 with 14 national member associations in Europe, representing more than 18,000 Financial analysts, Asset managers, pension fund managers, corporate finance specialists, risk managers, treasurers among many other professional profiles from the investment profession. EFFAS is a certification body for finance with over 27,000 certificate holders worldwide.
For further information, please contact:
Alvaro Wagener Diez | Marketing & Communications Manager | Email: a.wagener@effas.com
Phone Number: +49 69 98959519
