ESG and Sustainability have garnered attention in recent years, with many institutional investors investing only in those companies that provide ESG performance reporting. ESG has considerations relevant to analysts and investors, consumers, and employees, and has become a key topic of discussion at the Board table. This ESG and Sustainability Masterclass provides an overview of an ESG framework and how it supports a company’s overall risk management. It also examines each component in detail and provides insight into how they converge to impact a company and its stakeholders.

Program Description: The global investment and corporate community have realized that companies that do well in the world also do better in their businesses. Programs for corporate social responsibility (CSR) were all “nice to haves,” but now investors, consumers, and employees are demanding that companies make positive ESG (environmental, social, and governance) impacts and the game has changed.

Positively contributing to society and the environment is now a “must have.” ESG frameworks have brought transparency, objectivity, and accountability to companies’ environmental, social, and governance impacts. But, ESG frameworks are numerous and confusing. Reporting standards are varied and difficult to navigate. And, the ESG landscape is changing rapidly.

Businesses have realized that ESG is no longer a mere alternative but an imperative to be embedded into corporate strategy. ESG has emerged as a driving force for building resilient strategies that can future-proof businesses and the first steps that the corporate leaders can take to prepare for this monumental paradigm shift is to recognize and understand the entire philosophy and principles of ESG.

ESG is the No. 1 topic investors want to discuss with boards of directors. As of 2021/22, about 92% of publicly-traded companies and 67% of privately-owned companies had embarked on ESG initiatives. Moreover, about 90% of institutional investors believe that companies that prioritize ESG initiatives represent better opportunities for long-term returns than companies that do not.

In this program, participants would learn about measuring and communicating about sustainability. The most current systems will be known, such as the Global Reporting Initiative, ISO26000, Triple Bottom Line, UN Global Compact, common techniques for Environmental Social Governance (ESG) and the economy of the common good.