ESG-Investing Exam Questions and Answers

QUESTION: 11

Which of the following asset classes has the lowest degree of ESG integration?

Sovereign debt
Investment grade corporate debt
Emerging markets corporate debt

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

Sovereign debt has the lowest degree of ESG integration compared to investment-grade corporate debt and emerging markets corporate debt. This is due to several factors:

Limited ESG Data: There is generally less ESG data available for sovereign issuers compared to corporate issuers. Sovereign ESG assessments rely on country-level indicators, which may not be as detailed or specific as corporate ESG disclosures.

Complexity of ESG Factors: The ESG factors affecting sovereign debt are more complex and broader in scope, encompassing issues like political stability, governance, human rights, and environmental policies. This complexity makes it challenging to integrate ESG factors effectively.

Market Practices: The integration of ESG factors into sovereign debt investment processes is less advanced compared to corporate debt markets.
While there is growing interest, the methodologies and frameworks for assessing sovereign ESG risks are still developing.

Reference:

MSCI ESG Ratings Methodology (2022) - Discusses the challenges and current state of ESG integration across different asset classes, highlighting the relative lag in sovereign debt.

ESG-Ratings-Methodology-Exec-Summary (2022) - Provides insights into the varying degrees of ESG integration in different asset classes and the factors contributing to these differences.

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QUESTION: 12

A company reduces water usage and increases usage of more expensive resources after regulations become more stringent. This most likely impacts:

revenues
provisions
operating expenditure

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

When a company reduces water usage and increases the use of more expensive resources due to more stringent regulations, this directly impacts its operating expenditure (OPEX). Here's a detailed breakdown:

Regulatory Compliance:

As regulations become stricter, companies often need to adopt new technologies or practices that may be more costly. This increase in cost is directly related to the day-to-day operations of the company, affecting operating expenditures.

For example, implementing water-saving technologies or switching to sustainable raw materials that are more expensive than traditional ones will raise the ongoing costs associated with production.

Impact on Revenues:

While reducing water usage and adhering to stricter regulations can have long-term benefits for the company, such as improved sustainability ratings and possibly higher market valuation, these changes do not typically have an immediate direct impact on revenues. Revenues are more directly influenced by sales and market demand.

Impact on Provisions:

Provisions are set aside for future liabilities or losses, such as environmental remediation costs or legal disputes.
While stricter regulations might eventually lead to increased provisions, the immediate impact of switching to more expensive resources affects operating expenditure first.

Reference:

The CFA ESG Investing curriculum highlights the importance of understanding how regulatory changes can affect various aspects of a company's financials. Operating expenditure is often highlighted as the most immediately impacted area when companies adapt their operations to comply with new environmental standards.

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QUESTION: 13

Under the disclosure guide for public equities published by the Pension and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA). fund managers are expected to report on:

ESG integration only.
stewardship activities only.
both ESG integration and stewardship activities

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

Under the disclosure guide for public equities published by the Pension and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA), fund managers are expected to report on both ESG integration and stewardship activities. Here's a detailed explanation:

ESG Integration:

Fund managers are required to disclose how they integrate ESG factors into their investment processes. This includes the identification and management of ESG risks and opportunities.

They need to provide examples of material ESG factors identified in their analysis, how these factors influence their investment decisions, and how they monitor ESG risks over time .

Stewardship Activities:

Stewardship activities involve how fund managers engage with companies they invest in to promote sustainable business practices and good governance.

This includes voting at shareholder meetings, engaging in dialogue with company management, and participating in collaborative initiatives aimed at improving ESG standards across the industry .

Reference:

The CFA Institute's ESG curriculum emphasizes the dual role of ESG integration and stewardship in sustainable investing. Both aspects are crucial for ensuring that ESG considerations are fully embedded in the investment process and that fund managers actively contribute to improving corporate practices through engagement and voting .

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QUESTION: 14

A challenge to ESG integration at the asset allocation level when using mean-variance optimization is that it:

is highly sensitive to baseline assumptions
requires specialist knowledge to make informed judgments about future risk.
could introduce an additional source of estimation errors due to the need for dynamic rebalancing

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

A challenge to ESG integration at the asset allocation level when using mean-variance optimization is that it is highly sensitive to baseline assumptions. Here's why:

Baseline Assumptions:

Mean-variance optimization relies on assumptions about expected returns, risks, and correlations among different asset classes. These assumptions are often based on historical data, which may not accurately predict future performance, especially when integrating ESG factors .

Sensitivity:

Small changes in the baseline assumptions can lead to significantly different portfolio allocations. This sensitivity can be problematic when integrating ESG factors, as the data and methodologies for assessing ESG risks and opportunities are still evolving and can introduce additional variability .

Dynamic Rebalancing:

While dynamic rebalancing can introduce estimation errors, the primary challenge remains the sensitivity to initial assumptions. Specialist knowledge is essential for making informed judgments about future risks, but this is secondary to the issue of assumption sensitivity .

Reference:

The CFA ESG Investing curriculum covers the complexities of integrating ESG factors into asset allocation models, particularly the challenges posed by the sensitivity of mean-variance optimization to baseline assumptions .

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QUESTION: 15

Over the past several years, the proportion of sustainable investing relative to total managed assets has fallen in:

Europe
Canada
the United States

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

Over the past several years, the proportion of sustainable investing relative to total managed assets has fallen in Europe. Here's a detailed explanation:

Stricter Standards:

The decline in Europe's proportion of sustainable investing assets is partly due to the adoption of stricter standards and definitions for sustainable investing. These higher standards have led to a reclassification of assets, resulting in a decrease in the reported proportion of sustainable assets relative to total managed assets .

Comparative Growth:

In contrast, other regions such as Canada and Australia/New Zealand have seen an increase in the proportion of sustainable investing assets. This growth highlights the relative decline in Europe as stricter regulatory frameworks have reshaped the sustainable investing landscape .

Reference:

The CFA ESG Investing curriculum emphasizes the regional differences in the growth and adoption of sustainable investing practices. Europe's move towards stricter regulations and definitions has impacted the proportion of sustainable assets, a trend well-documented in recent ESG reports and industry analyses .

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CFA ESG-Investing Exam (page: 3) CFA Certificate in ESG Investing Updated on: 09-Feb-2026

QUESTION: 11

Explanation:

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QUESTION: 12

Explanation:

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QUESTION: 13

Explanation:

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QUESTION: 14

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QUESTION: 15

Explanation:

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CFA ESG-Investing Exam (page: 3)
CFA Certificate in ESG Investing
Updated on: 09-Feb-2026