ESG Fundamentals

Course Overview

Course Description

Businesses are now judged on their commitment to operating responsibly and sustainably using the Environmental Social Governance (ESG) matrix. A course in ESG has become necessary as stakeholders such as investors, consumers, and the government are becoming more aware of the need for businesses to be conscious of their operations. The goal of this introductory course is to give businesses a sense of direction regarding the idea of ESG factors, risks, and opportunities, as well as to explain how they may affect companies.

If you want to learn more about ESG and sustainability concepts, you’re at the right place. This course covers ESG fundamentals to understand better the opportunities and risks companies, organisations, and the community will come across in line with international frameworks. Special reference will be made to the "why" and "how" of identifying and evaluating ESG factors and the role of stakeholders in influencing such decisions.

The introductory course will give its participants a thorough understanding of the fundamental elements of ESG, as well as the business rationale for incorporating ESG practices into regular corporate operations.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to

• Communicate the concept of ESG within the sustainability context.

• Perform an ESG materiality evaluation to identify the key business-relevant concerns.

• Understand how a company tackles the opportunities and risks that changing market and non-market variables bring in today's world.

This course is ideal for:

Business Leaders and Executives: If you're steering your organisation towards a sustainable and ethical future, this course provides the knowledge and strategies to integrate ESG considerations seamlessly into your decision-making processes.

Investment Professionals: Whether you're managing portfolios, evaluating investments, or engaging with stakeholders, our ESG course equips you with the tools to assess ESG risks and opportunities, enhancing your investment decision-making.

Sustainability Practitioners: If you're passionate about making a positive impact and advancing sustainability within your company, this course offers the latest insights and best practices in ESG reporting and implementation.

Students and Researchers: For those embarking on a career in sustainability, finance, or corporate responsibility, this course serves as a strong foundation, offering comprehensive knowledge about ESG's role in today's global landscape.

Regulators and Policy Makers: Stay ahead of the curve in shaping policies and regulations that promote responsible business conduct. Understand the intricacies of ESG frameworks and their implications.

Entrepreneurs and Start-up Founders: If you're launching a new venture or looking to align your business with ESG principles from the outset, this course will provide you with the insights and strategies to build a sustainable business model.

Anyone Interested in Sustainability: Whether you're an individual looking to make more informed choices as a consumer or a concerned citizen wanting to understand the impacts of ESG in broader society, this course offers accessible insights into the world of ESG.

Course Structure and Content

• The course is structured around four modules.

• Fundamentals of ESG, ESG Factors and Impacts

• Materiality Assessment

• Examining ESG Risk and Opportunities

• The influence of stakeholders and corporate pressure

Module 1: Fundamentals of ESG, ESG Factors and Impacts

This module will introduce participants to the fundamental concepts of ESG, its historical and evolutionary roots, and how it differs from other similar terms that have been used interchangeably. For participant understanding, an overview of significant ESG trends and factors spanning multiple industries will be covered. The module will conclude by assisting participants in understanding the significance of ESG and its implications for businesses.

Module Structure and Content

The module will be comprised of the following sections:

• An overview of the concept ESG and ESG Factors.

• Difference between ESG, SRI, impact investment, and CSR.

• ESG history, trends, and growth drivers.

• The importance of ESG and its business implication.

• Barriers to ESG implementation.

Learning Outcomes

After completion of module 1, participants will be able to:

• Understand and interpret the concepts of ESG.

• Describe key ESG issues and their impacts on corporations.

• Understand its relevance for businesses.

• Understand the difference between ESG and other existing concepts.

Module 2: The Concept of Materiality Assessment

Materiality evaluation is a process that defines what is relevant to a firm in terms of how its operations positively and negatively influence the environment, people, and economy. This module is designed to introduce participants to a well-structured best practice for detecting, assessing, and managing any real or potential environmental, social, or governance concerns that may provide a threat or an opportunity to their firm.

Module Structure and Content

The module will be comprised of the following sections:

• What is materiality and materiality assessment.

• The process of conducting a materiality assessment.

• Best practice for conducting an effective and reliable materiality assessment.

• Prioritising & managing significant material issues.

• Importance of business materiality assessment.

Learning Outcomes

After completion of module 2, participants will be able to:

• Understand the needed steps involved in carrying out materiality assessment.

• Describe the various approaches for gathering relevant material data.

• Determine what the best material topic for their business is and how to manage them.

• Ensure best practices are integrated into their material topic identification to ensure verifiability, accuracy, and reliability.

Module 3: Examining ESG Risk and Opportunities

Environmental, social, and governance issues have received a lot of attention from stakeholders in recent years. Climate change, natural resource scarcity, pollution, human capital, diversity, and inclusion, among many other themes, challenge organisations with a number of risks and opportunities. Stakeholders such as investors and financial institutions are interested in learning how firms identify and manage the actual and potential risks and opportunities presented by ESG themes. Module 3 explains how firms can identify the risks and opportunities in their overall management processes.

Module Structure and Content

The module will be comprised of the following sections:

• What are ESG risks and opportunities and why they are important.

• Analysing ESG risk and opportunities based on a global frameworks.

• How to manage risk and opportunities.

Learning Outcomes

After completion of module 3, participants will be able to:

• Understand and acknowledge climate-related, social-related, and governance-related risks and opportunities.

• Understand key approaches to managing their risk and opportunities.

• Better, integrate ESG risk and opportunities into business decision-making.

Module 4: The influence of stakeholders on Corporate ESG Performance

This module will look at corporate pressures and stakeholder expectations and how these affect risk identification and company success. It will also look at some other stakeholder perspectives, as well as corporate and institutional initiatives that are driving ESG and overall success.

Module Structure and Content

The module will be comprised of the following sections:

• What are stakeholders and their importance.

• What are stakeholder expectations considering corporate ESG performance.

• Modern demand on the supply chain by stakeholders.

• Key considerations for companies and stakeholders.

Learning Outcomes

After completion of module 4, participants will be able to:

• Identify who their stakeholders are.

• Understand stakeholder expectations and demand.

• Understand the difference between strong and weak ESG systems.

• Understanding major factors and initiatives driving the ESG performance.