Developing the ESG Expert

Series Overview

This is a 4-part series that will take place monthly for 1 hour each session. Recordings will be made available after each session if you are unable to attend a session live.

This course series is designed to give you the basics of building an ESG program and integrating ESG factors into operations to further evaluate risks, opportunities and improve business resiliency.  The focus will be on developing an ESG roadmap and strategy and honing in on reporting and communication. We will also provide guidance on building a credible strategy toward launching initiatives, such as decarbonization, as part of the overall sustainability journey.

Attendees will receive 4 Professional Development Hours (PDH) and a Level 3 ESG Expert Digital Badge upon completion of the full series.

Who Should Attend

• Anyone relatively newer to ESG and wants a better understanding of basic terminology and frameworks
• Corporate executives across all business functions who are involved in any aspects of building an ESG roadmap (Human Resources, Strategy / Business Development, Supply Chain / Procurement, Operations), particularly those focused on the environmental and social factors
• ESG / Sustainability professionals
• Investor relations professionals
• C-suite (CEO, CFO, CSO, COO, etc.)

Session Summaries

February 28: Part One: Building an ESG Roadmap: Best Practices

ESG has quickly become one of the most commonly used acronyms in the business world today. Increasingly, corporations are recognizing the need to consider ESG frameworks into their business strategies and are looking for guidance on how to develop a framework around incorporating ESG principles across their business operations. This course will provide guidance on how to build an ESG roadmap, irrespective of where you are in the sustainability journey, inclusive of tracking and monitoring progress toward goals.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Defining terminology around ESG and sustainability
2. Providing an update on key rules and regulations all executives should be familiar with as it pertains to ESG frameworks
3. Providing guidelines on how to develop an ESG roadmap (inclusive of governance, strategy development, target setting and reporting to stakeholders)

March 23: Part Two-GHG Footprinting and Developing the Pathway to Net Zero

Net Zero” has quickly become a buzzword where companies are racing to make long-term commitments to these aspirational goals. However, to achieve these goals, many companies and investors are still in the early innings of data collection around their GHG footprint. This course is defined as “GHG / Carbon Footprint 101” to help those individuals newer to the climate journey identify how to tackle GHG footprinting for their respective organizations and to better understand how net zero targets are defined (and the difference with carbon neutrality.)

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Define basic terminology around GHG footprinting
2. Provide a high-level roadmap on how to build a carbon footprint across Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions
3. Provide an overview of Science-based Targets and what is required for target setting
4. Provide clarification on net zero vs carbon neutrality

April 19: Part Three- Navigating Climate Risk and Reporting

From the initial announcement of the Climate and ESG Task Force to the passing of the Climate Risk Disclosure Act of 2021, there is a growing focus on the implementation of climate risk disclosure.  In March 2022, the SEC proposed new climate-related disclosure requirements for public companies.  The SEC’s proposed rules would require public companies to provide certain climate-related financial data and greenhouse gas emissions insights in public disclosure filings. These new requirements would be aligned with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework, including information about the material impacts of climate risk on a company’s business and information about a company’s governance, risk management and strategy related to climate risks.  This course is designed to provide a better understanding of the climate risk disclosure frameworks for reporting purposes and how a TCFD-aligned framework can be linked to developing a climate strategy.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Provide an understanding of current rules and regulations including the Climate Risk Disclosure Act and the implications of the SEC’s pending climate risk disclosure proposal
2. Provide an understanding of the TCFD framework – what it is and the roadmap to build the framework
3. Provide a better understanding of how TCFD aligns with developing the overall strategy

May 31: Part Four-Messaging ESG to Stakeholders: Best Practices

Greenwashing is increasingly becoming more of a concern as companies and investors are disclosing high-level commitments and claims about their sustainability objectives and commitments but often do not have credible data to back up these claims.  This course is defined on how to build a credible sustainability program and message the relevant aspects of that ESG program with credibility.  How does one put a communications/messaging plan together to not only help investors understand their ESG program, but also articulate their sustainability commitments to customers? This course is designed for those individuals who are responsible for externally messaging the ESG / sustainability story for their respective organizations.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Define greenwashing
2. Provide an understanding of key components to message sustainability to stakeholders
3. Discuss considerations around the methodology for issuing communication around sustainability plans (i.e., CSR reports, website, investor decks)
4. Review best practices on ESG disclosure