GARP SCR 2026 vs 2025: What Changed in the Learning Objectives

Kateryna Myrko
1 day ago
4 min read

If you are preparing for the Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR) Certificate, the most important annual update is not just “new content” in the curriculum—it is how GARP re-expresses testable scope through the Learning Objectives (LOs). In the GARP SCR 2026 vs 2025 comparison, the headline is a shift toward (1) clearer integration of testable required online readings, and (2) tighter, more applied wording that consolidates overlapping objectives while adding a few targeted new emphases.

Before we get into the changes, keep the exam facts straight. GARP describes the SCR Exam as 80 equally weighted multiple-choice questions, with one multi-part question case study, and emphasizes the exam is practice-oriented (application of concepts across risk management, strategy, operations, reporting, and innovation).

The SCR Exam is offered in April and October. Candidates can schedule the exam remotely (online proctoring) or at a Pearson VUE CBT test center.

If you searched this topic as “GGARP SCR 2026 vs 2025,” you are in the right place—below is the substantive LO-level breakdown that matters for study planning.

What Stayed Largely the Same in GARP SCR 2026 vs 2025

Across Chapters 1–8, the core conceptual arc remains intact: climate science foundations, sustainability framing, climate risk (physical/transition), policy and governance, sustainable finance instruments, climate risk measurement and ERM integration, scenario analysis, and net zero. The chapter weightings also remain broadly consistent for Chapters 1–7 (typically 8–12 questions each).

Where 2026 differs is less about “new chapters” and more about how objectives are scoped, consolidated, and tested.

The Biggest Learning Objective Shifts in SCR 2026

1) Required online readings are explicitly testable and operationalized

The 2026 guide is explicit that required online readings are testable and that every exam question is directly aligned to a designated LO. In addition, 2026 includes standalone LO lists for required readings (e.g., UNEP FI Principles for Responsible Banking; PRI; NGFS; GHG Protocol; TCFD implementation excerpts).

This is a meaningful practical change versus a “book-only” study posture: candidates should now treat required readings as first-class test material, not optional context.

2) Several chapters consolidate “duplicative” objectives into broader applied statements

In multiple places, 2026 collapses parallel bullets into single objectives that expect integrated understanding. Examples:

Chapter 3 combines physical + transition framing into “Describe how physical and transition climate risks can translate to financial risk.”
Chapter 6 merges company-level measurement tools for transition and physical risk into one LO, and does the same at the portfolio level.
Chapter 9 compresses climate/nature assessment detail into fewer, broader LOs (while keeping TNFD/LEAP and water risk steps).

3) Targeted “new emphasis” additions: consumer products, scenario planning differentiation, transition adoption drivers

Three additions stand out as genuinely new or newly explicit:

Chapter 5 (Sustainable Finance): “Identify and explain consumer-facing, sustainable finance products.”
Chapter 7 (Scenario Analysis): “Differentiate transition and physical risk scenario planning.”
Chapter 10 (Transition Planning): “Know the drivers of transition plan adoption beyond disclosures.”

These are small in number but high-signal: they indicate where GARP is sharpening “real-world practice” expectations.

GARP SCR 2026 vs 2025: Summary Table of LO Changes

Chapter	What’s New / Added in 2026	What’s Deleted or Reduced vs 2025	What’s Modified / Consolidated
Ch. 2 Sustainability	Required readings LOs (UNEP FI PRB; PRI) are explicitly listed/testable	Less explicit MDGs mention; “greenwish” terminology removed	Greenwashing LO simplified to a broader practice/action framing
Ch. 3 Climate Change Risk	—	Standalone “Differentiate physical vs transition risk” no longer appears as separate bullet	Physical+transition combined into one LO on financial translation
Ch. 4 Policy/Governance	Required reading LOs (NGFS; GHG Protocol) explicitly testable	Paris Agreement as a standalone LO is removed (still contextual in chapter narrative)	Carbon pricing phrasing broadened (“policies”)
Ch. 5 Sustainable Finance	Consumer-facing sustainable finance products added; “social loans” explicitly included	Sustainability-linked loan/bond “principles” bullets reduced to a single “describe” LO	Stronger emphasis on subcategories/overlaps + role of funds
Ch. 6 Measurement/Management	Required reading LOs include WACI/carbon metric calculations	—	Company-level and portfolio-level transition/physical measurement merged
Ch. 7 Models/Scenarios	Differentiate transition vs physical scenario planning	Case-study wording reduced as a standalone LO	Use-case framing broadened across org types
Ch. 8 Net Zero	Exam weight range shifts to 3–6 questions	—	Mostly stable LOs
Ch. 9 Climate & Nature Assessment	More compact LO set; stronger “ISSB builds on TCFD” phrasing	Several granular 2025 bullets removed (datasets/tools cataloging; nature opportunities; case-study phrasing)	Nature + water drivers combined; steps-based assessment emphasis
Ch. 10 Transition Planning/Carbon	Drivers of transition plan adoption beyond disclosures	Less explicit treatment of “emerging mandatory/voluntary reporting requirements” and PCAF asset-class coverage	Transition planning framed around “use cases” + core elements and calculations

How to Adjust Your Study Plan for SCR 2026

In practical terms, the GARP SCR 2026 vs 2025 changes point to three study upgrades:

Treat required online readings as examinable content, and study them via their LOs (especially NGFS, GHG Protocol boundaries, and TCFD metric calculations).
Update your Chapter 5 notes to include consumer-facing products and a clearer mapping of sustainable finance subcategories and fund roles—not just instrument definitions.
Practice scenario work in two lanes (transition vs physical), because the differentiation is now explicitly testable.

Finally, keep your logistics current: 2026 SCR exam windows, registration periods, and pricing are posted by GARP and can change by administration—use the official exam logistics and fees pages when planning your timeline.