Professional bodies have backed a charter to increase the amount of 'green finance' professional education for planners and professionals.

The charter is a commitment from professional bodies to integrate green finance and sustainability into their core curricula, new qualifications and professional development for members.

The charter was launched by the UK Government, the Green Finance Institute, and 12 financial professional bodies.

The professional bodies include the Chartered Insurance Institute (and Personal Finance Society), AICPA-CIMA, CFA Society, the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment, and the London institute of Banking and Finance.

By the end of 2020 the Charter asks financial services professional bodies to commit to engage members on issues related to climate change and environmental issues.

The professional bodies have also agreed to curate, develop and promote "relevant resources" to members on green and sustainable finance, and to encourage the adoption of global and national standards, frameworks and guidance, including the Principles for Responsible Investment, Banking and Insurance and the Taskforce on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

Simon Culhane, chief executive of the CISI, said: “We are extremely pleased to be supporting this initiative, an important step in acknowledging our profession’s commitment to education across the broad field of responsibility and sustainability, including green finance.

"This supports our members worldwide in bringing the drive, energy, integrity and skills needed to deliver the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and to establish a low-carbon world. The Charter aligns with the momentum already underway in our learning and qualifications programmes to ensure our members and future candidates can help build a planet fit for our children’s children to thrive in – and pass on."