Sustainability Reporting and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance)

Course Overview: As investors and regulators increase their focus on non-financial performance, this course teaches professionals how to measure, manage, and report on Sustainability and ESG metrics. It covers global frameworks like GRI, SASB, and TCFD to ensure transparent and high-quality disclosure.

Course Objectives:

• Understand the core pillars of ESG and their impact on corporate value.
• Master the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and other reporting standards.
• Conduct a “Materiality Assessment” to identify key sustainability issues.
• Collect and verify ESG data for reporting purposes.
• Communicate sustainability performance effectively to stakeholders and investors.

Target Audience:

• Sustainability and CSR Managers.
• Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs).
• Investor Relations and Financial Reporting Professionals.

Course Outline:

Day 1: The Foundations of ESG and Sustainability

• Evolution from CSR to ESG.
• The Business Case for Sustainability.
• Understanding Stakeholder Expectations (Investors, Regulators, Customers).
• Overview of Global Frameworks (UN SDGs, GRI, SASB, TCFD).

Day 2: Materiality and Strategy Integration

• The Concept of Double Materiality.
• Conducting a Materiality Assessment Workshop.
• Integrating ESG into Corporate Strategy and Governance.
• Setting Science-Based Targets (SBTs).

Day 3: Environmental and Social Metrics

• Measuring Carbon Footprint (Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions).
• Social Metrics: Diversity, Human Rights, and Labor Practices.
• Supply Chain Sustainability and Modern Slavery risks.
• Data Collection Challenges and Solutions.

Day 4: Governance and Reporting Standards

• Governance Metrics: Board Diversity, Executive Pay, and Ethics.
• Deep Dive into GRI Standards.
• ESG Rating Agencies and How they Score Organizations.
• Digital Reporting and Data Transparency.

Day 5: Assurance and Communication

• Internal and External Assurance of Sustainability Reports.
• Avoiding “Greenwashing” in Corporate Communications.
• Drafting a Sustainability Report Outline.
• Future Trends in ESG Regulation (EU CSRD, SEC Rules).