UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL

COURSEWORK ASSESSMENT FOR DEGREES IN THE UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL BUSINESS

SCHOOL

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MARCH 2025

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UNIT CODE: ACFIM0018

UNIT NAME: GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE FINANCE

DEADLINE:

TBC before 13:00 GMT

SUBMIT TO BLACKBOARD UNIT SUBMISSION POINT

Overview

• Your summative coursework represents 45% of the final mark for the unit.

• The coursework is in the form of a report.

• Penalties will apply if the coursework is submitted late.

• The coursework is a group work assessment. You will be required to make a plagiarism statement

and your submission will be tested for originality.

Coursework requirement

Essay Topic: Green Finance Portfolio Project

Question: You will form groups of four members to analyse and develop an investment strategy focused

on sustainable stocks. Your task is to examine how companies' environmental or social practices impact

their performance. This analysis should result in a 2,500-word report detailing your strategy and findings. In

cases where a group is constituted of three members, the required word count for the report will be

reduced to approximately 2,000 words. The deadline to form a group is 24 January 2024. After this date,

individuals who have not yet formed a group will be randomly allocated to groups.

The Brief:

Your group is tasked with developing an investment strategy that focuses on sustainable stocks. This involves

analysing how the environmental or social practices of companies influence their financial performance. Your

analysis should include:

1. Stock exchange or index selection: Each group will select a major stock exchange (e.g., NYSE,

NASDAQ, LSE) or an index (e.g., S&P 500, FTSE 100). Focus your analysis on companies listed on

the chosen exchange or in the index that are engaged in sustainable practices or green technologies.

This may include firms specialising in renewable technologies, those with low carbon emissions or

low carbon emission intensity or high E-scores, or companies focusing on gender balance or reducing

wage gaps, among others.

2. Company selection and analysis: From those identified in the first step, select a group of companies

to form an investment portfolio focusing on sustainable stocks. In your report, provide a clear

explanation for choosing these particular companies, considering factors like sustainability

performance, financial stability, and growth potential. Additionally, evaluate each company's

compliance with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria. Ensure your analysis deeply

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investigates how these companies incorporate ESG factors into their business operations and the

consequent effect on their overall sustainability.

3. Market trends analysis: Investigate how current sustainability trends are influencing the stock

market in which your chosen companies are listed. Analyse the impact of various factors, such as

environmental policies, advancements in green technology, and increasing public awareness of

sustainability issues on stock prices. This part of your analysis should provide insight into how broader

environmental and social trends are shaping market dynamics and investor behaviour.

4. Stock performance evaluation: Evaluate the stock performance of your selected portfolio in

comparison to the overall market portfolio. This assessment should include an analysis of how your

sustainable stock portfolio performs against broader market indices.

5. Sustainability report: Compile your findings into a comprehensive 2,500-word report. The report

should detail your investment strategy, the rationale behind your company selection, and an

evaluation of each company's sustainability impact and stock performance. Academic and/or

real- world practice references should be used where appropriate to substantiate your analysis.

The goal of this assignment is to apply green finance principles in a practical setting, fostering a deeper

understanding of sustainable investing and its impact on corporate performance and market trends. Your

report should not only showcase your investment strategy but also reflect critical thinking about the role of

sustainability in finance.

Background: The project is designed to provide students with practical experience in analysing and

strategising within the realm of sustainable investing. It reflects current trends in the financial market and the

crucial role of finance in driving sustainable development.

Marks will be awarded for: All students in a group will receive the same mark. Students will be assessed

based on their ability to demonstrate critical reflection on relevant academic literature, apply appropriate

analytical tools, analyse results, and evaluate and appraise them in the context of the material covered in

lectures (ILO3, ILO4).

Assessment criteria :

1. Quality of analysis: Marks will be awarded for the depth and accuracy of your analysis of companies'

sustainability practices, financial health, and market performance, including an assessment of their

adherence to ESG criteria. Marks will also be given for demonstrating a thorough understanding of

current sustainability trends in the stock market and their impact on stock prices and investor

behaviour.

2. Report quality: Marks will be based on the clarity, coherence, and overall quality of your written

report. This includes the organisation of content, argumentation logic, and the presentation of data

and findings.

3. Critical thinking and originality: Recognition of the level of critical thinking, originality, and insight

shown in your analysis and recommendations.

4. Research and data utilisation: Evaluation of the extent and depth of research conducted and how

effectively data and resources are utilised to support your analysis and findings. Appropriate academic

and real-world practice references should be used.

These criteria are designed to assess a comprehensive understanding and application of green finance

principles, analytical skills, strategic thinking, and the quality of communication in your report.

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Submission

Your work must be submitted on Blackboard before the date and time stated above. If you have any

queries when submitting your work please contact the Student Administration Team ([email protected])

Coursework Extension Request

If you require a coursework extension, please complete the online form. You must provide supporting

evidence for an extension request. Please see the University website for information on how to submit an

extension request.

Late Submission

You must submit assessed work before the deadline. Work that has been submitted late without

exceptional circumstances is penalised by a reduction of ten marks (out of 100) for each 24-hour period

after the agreed deadline, not including UK public holidays or University closure days. If the work is

submitted late such that at least four such 24-hour periods have elapsed, the mark awarded will

automatically default to zero. (Please see section 18.3 - 18.6 of the University Regulations and Code of

Practice for further details)

Exceptional Circumstances

If you experience circumstances that impact your ability to submit the essay by the deadline, please submit

exceptional circumstances via the online form. Please see the University website for information on how to

submit exceptional circumstances.

Plagiarism and Cheating

Please read the University rules and guidance about plagiarism and cheating and how they are dealt with by

the University in section 18.1- 18.2 of the University Regulations and Code of Practice

Marking Criteria and Scales

Please read the University rules and guidance about marking criteria and scales in section 15 of the

University Regulations and Code of Practice