Aston University Sustainable Finance Workshop 2026 (ASFW 2026)
Aston Business School is pleased to host the Aston University Sustainable Finance Workshop 2026, to be held in person on 14 September 2026 at Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
The workshop aims to facilitate focused academic discussion on current research in sustainable finance, with a strong emphasis on methodological rigour and policy relevance. It provides a dedicated platform for researchers and practitioners to engage with the evolving role of financial systems in addressing pressing environmental and social challenges.
Call for Papers
We invite submissions of original research papers and extended abstracts that make a clear and substantive contribution to the field of sustainable finance. Submissions should demonstrate conceptual clarity, methodological rigour, and relevance to ongoing academic and policy debates.
Both empirical and theoretical papers are welcome. Empirical contributions should be transparent in design and identification, while theoretical work should offer clear mechanisms and testable implications. Papers at an advanced draft stage will be prioritised.
Relevant topics include, but are not limited to:
- Climate finance, transition pathways, and net-zero strategies
- ESG measurement, disclosure, assurance, and reporting standards
- Corporate governance, ownership structures, and sustainability outcomes
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion in financial markets and institutions
- Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data-driven methods in finance
- Sustainable banking, green lending, and financial intermediation
- Asset pricing, portfolio allocation, and risk management under climate risk
- FinTech and digital finance applications in sustainability contexts Regulatory
- frameworks, climate policy, and financial stability
- Real effects of sustainable finance on firms, households, and economies
- Measurement challenges, data quality, and reproducibility in ESG research
The workshop particularly encourages interdisciplinary contributions linking finance with economics, regulation, data science, and environmental studies. Submissions with clear implications for policymakers, regulators, and practitioners are especially welcome.
Keynote Speaker
The workshop will feature a keynote address by Professor Simon Dietz, whose work has contributed to shaping current debates on climate economics and sustainable finance.
Simon Dietz is an environmental economist specialising in climate change and sustainability. He is based at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where he serves as Research Director of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, Research Director of the TPI Global Climate Transition Centre, and Professor of Environmental Policy in the Department of Geography and Environment.
He is co-editor of the Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, a CEPR Research Fellow, a CESifo Research Network Fellow, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He previously served as Vice President and Council Member of the European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists.
Workshop Format
The workshop is designed to encourage constructive feedback and scholarly exchange, supporting the development of high‑quality research and fostering future collaboration. The programme will include:
- Research paper presentations
- Open academic discussion
- Distinguished invited lectures by leading scholars
Submission Guidelines and Key Dates
- Submission deadline: 15 July 2026
- Notification of acceptance: 31 July 2026
- Registration deadline: 15 August 2026
- Workshop date: 14 September 2026
- Registration fee: £150
Full papers are preferred, although extended abstracts (minimum 1,000 words) will be considered. All submissions will undergo a review process focusing on quality, relevance and potential for constructive discussion.
Special Issue
Selected high‑quality and highly relevant papers presented at the workshop will be considered for publication in the Journal of Environmental Management (CABS 3) Special Issue entitled:
Intangible Assets and Visible Impact: Corporate Responses to the Climate Challenge
As climate risks intensify, firms are increasingly required not only to reduce their environmental impact but also to establish credibility through transparent disclosure, credible assurance, and stakeholder trust.
The Special Issue welcomes contributions on topics including:
- Intangible environmental and social assets
- ESG disclosure quality and assurance
- Green reputation and legitimacy
- Corporate governance and climate strategy
- Stakeholder engagement across institutional settings
Guest Editors
Dr Sajid Mukhtar Chaudhry, Aston Business School, Aston University, Birmingham, UK
Dr Rizwan Ahmed, University of Vaasa, Finland
Special Issue submission deadline: 31 December 2026
Venue
The workshop will be hosted at Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom, with sessions held at Conference Aston.
Conference Aston provides a well-equipped academic setting with modern facilities that support focused discussion and professional exchange. Its central location offers convenient access to transport links and the wider city.
The workshop will be hosted at Aston University, located in the heart of Birmingham, the UK’s second‑largest city and a major international hub with excellent transport links.
Further details regarding submissions, important dates, and the scientific and organising committees will be announced on this website in due course.
Organiser
Dr Sajid Chaudhry
Reader in Finance,
Department of Accounting and Finance
Aston Business Business, Aston University, Birmingham, UK
s.chaudhry9@aston.ac.uk
