ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE (ESG)

INTRODUCTION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE (ESG)

ESG is the acronym for Environmental, Social, and (Corporate) Governance, the three broad categories, or areas, of interest for what is termed “socially responsible investors.” They are investors who consider it important to incorporate their values and concerns (such as environmental concerns) into their selection of investments instead of simply considering the potential profitability and/or risk presented by an investment opportunity.

ESG are of increasing interest to companies, their investors and other stakeholders. With growing concern about the ethical status of quoted companies, these standards are the central factors that measure the ethical impact and sustainability of investment in a company.

This programme focuses on ESG fundamentals and its importance in terms of incorporating them into the business processes of an organisation.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon successful completion of this course, SMEs will be able to:

• Understand and implement ESG requirements.
• Identify ESG requirements and know how to implement it.
• Develop an ESG management approach that suits your business structure.
• Know how to structure the ESG Management system to attract investor capita

COURSE CONTENT

• Introduction
  • Introduction to social sustainability; environmental sustainability; economic sustainability; and governance structure and management systems in firms.
  • Introduction to themes in ESG reporting, such as climate, human rights and social sustainability.
  • Understanding different forms of capital and the use of the concept of the ecosystem in the context of companies, and more explicitly in relation to accounting and    reporting
• Compliance Framework
  • Legal
  • Standard
  • Best Practices

• Environmental – Understanding and Implementation
  • Climate Change
  • Greenhouse gas emissions
  • Resource depletion, including water
  • Waste and pollution
  • Deforestation

• Social – Understanding and Implementation
  • Working conditions, including slavery and child labour
  • Local communities, including indigenous communities
  • Conflict and humanitarian crises
  • Health and safety
  • Employee relations and diversity

• Governance – Understanding and Implementation
  • Executive pay
  • Bribery and corruption
  • Board diversity and structure
  • Fair tax strategy

• Internal Audit
  • Operational Controls
  • Financial Controls

• Risk Assessment
  • Critical Business Processes
  • Gaps in the process
  • Risk description in line with ESG
  • Severity rating
  • Corrective Action

• Desktop Exercise

• Q&A