Introduction to ESG from Coursera

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) has gained increasing attention over the past few 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 it has become a key topic of discussion at the Board table. This course provides an overview of an ESG framework and how it supports a company’s overall risk management. It examines each component in detail and provides insight into how they converge to impact a company and its stakeholders. The course also discusses how to look at corporate pressures & stakeholder expectations and their impact on risk identification and business success. Lastly, we look at critical considerations from both the company and investor perspectives before applying theory to practice in a final case study.

Upon completing this course, you will be able to:

• Explain what ESG is and its relevance to making financial decisions;

• Describe key environmental, social, and governance issues;

• Explain how stakeholders influence corporate ESG performance;

• Analyze ESG risks and opportunities;

• Assess ESG company performance using publicly available information;

• Translate ESG information to business intelligence.

Who should take this course?

This Environmental Social Governance (ESG) course is perfect for any analyst who would like to better understand how a company manages risks and opportunities that shifting market & non-market conditions create in today’s world.

This course explores concepts that will be useful for beginner and intermediate-level research analysts, banking and investment professionals, or business and finance students seeking to gain further insight into ESG.

The exercises and tools explored in this course will also be useful for any business analyst that wishes to advise public market clients on ESG strategies and improved disclosures.

What's inside

Syllabus

Getting Started

This course provides an overview of an ESG framework and how it supports a company’s overall risk management. It examines each component in detail and provides insight into how they converge to impact a company and its stakeholders. The course also discusses how to look at corporate pressures & stakeholder expectations and their impact on risk identification and business success. Lastly, we look at critical considerations from both the company and investor perspectives before applying theory to practice in a final case study.

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Explores how ESG supports a company’s overall risk management, which is essential for analysts in understanding a company's long-term viability

Examines corporate pressures and stakeholder expectations, which helps analysts understand their impact on risk identification and business success

Applies theory to practice in a final case study, which allows analysts to develop practical skills in ESG analysis and decision-making

Discusses critical considerations from both the company and investor perspectives, which is useful for analysts advising public market clients

Teaches how to assess ESG company performance using publicly available information, which is a core skill for research analysts

Requires learners to translate ESG information to business intelligence, which is useful for business analysts advising public market clients

Reviews summary

Solid foundation in esg concepts

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundational understanding of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) concepts. Many found the explanations clear and concise, making it an excellent introduction for beginners or those new to the topic. A frequently highlighted positive aspect is the practical case study, which helps solidify the theoretical concepts. However, some students felt the course lacked depth on specific areas or was at times too theoretical, suggesting it's best suited as a starting point rather than an in-depth dive.

Leans theoretical, could use more practical examples.

"Too theoretical, not enough practical examples beyond the case study. Expected more on data sources."

"Found it a bit dry. Some parts felt rushed. Didn't gain as much practical skill as hoped."

"I would have liked to see more real-world company examples throughout the course."

"The link between theory and day-to-day application could be stronger in some modules."

The final case study is practical and helpful.

"The case study was very practical and helped me see how to apply the concepts learned."

"A must-take for finance students. Gives a solid understanding. Case study applied concepts well."

"The exercises and tools explored in this course were useful, especially the final case study."

"I appreciated the practical application through the case study at the end."

Provides a clear and solid introduction to ESG.

"Excellent overview. It gave me a clear and concise understanding of what ESG is and its importance."

"Fantastic course! It simplified complex ideas around ESG and gave me a solid understanding."

"Provides a good starting point for anyone new to ESG. Explains the 'why' behind ESG well."

"I gained a good foundational knowledge of ESG principles and frameworks from this course."

May be too basic or lack depth for advanced learners.

"Decent intro, covers the basics. Content is clear but lacks depth on certain topics."

"Found the course a bit basic, especially since I had some prior knowledge. Could go deeper."

"While a good overview, it didn't delve into specifics or data sources as much as I hoped."

"I feel it could expand on some of the more complex aspects mentioned briefly."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction to ESG with these activities:

Review Corporate Finance Fundamentals

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Solidify your understanding of core corporate finance principles. This will provide a strong foundation for analyzing ESG's impact on financial performance and valuation.

Browse courses on Discounted Cash Flow

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Review key financial ratios and metrics.
Practice building a simple financial model.
Study the relationships between the three financial statements.

Review 'ESG Investing on Wall Street: Making Good While Making Money'

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Explore the practical application of ESG investing in the financial industry. This will provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of ESG integration.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Read the book's chapters on ESG integration in investment strategies.
Identify the key challenges and opportunities discussed in the book.
Relate these insights to the course material and real-world examples.

Review 'Sustainable Investing: Establishing Long-Term Value and Performance'

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Gain a deeper understanding of sustainable investing strategies. This will help you connect ESG factors to financial performance and investment decisions.

View Modern China: Financial Cooperation for Solving... on Amazon

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Read the book's introduction and key chapters on ESG integration.
Take notes on the different sustainable investing approaches discussed.
Reflect on how these approaches relate to the course material.

Three other activities

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Write a Blog Post on ESG Trends

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Deepen your understanding of current ESG trends by researching and writing about them. This will improve your ability to translate ESG information into business intelligence.

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Research current trends in ESG investing and corporate sustainability.
Choose a specific trend to focus on (e.g., climate risk disclosure, social impact investing).
Write a blog post summarizing the trend and its implications.
Share your blog post on social media or relevant online forums.

Compile a List of ESG Data Providers

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Familiarize yourself with the landscape of ESG data providers. This will enhance your ability to assess company performance using publicly available information.

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Research different ESG data providers (e.g., MSCI, Sustainalytics, Refinitiv).
Compare their methodologies and data coverage.
Create a spreadsheet summarizing the key features of each provider.
Note the strengths and weaknesses of each provider.

ESG Risk Assessment Project

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Apply your knowledge to assess the ESG risks of a specific company. This will solidify your understanding of how ESG factors impact a company's overall risk profile.

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Select a publicly traded company.
Gather ESG data from various sources.
Analyze the company's ESG performance and identify key risks.
Write a report summarizing your findings and recommendations.

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to ESG will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Sustainability Analyst

A Sustainability Analyst assesses a company's environmental, social, and governance performance, and this course introduces the very framework used for that assessment. This role, at its core, involves analyzing how a company manages various risks and opportunities related to its ESG impact. This course equips those in the sustainability analyst role with the ability to understand how stakeholders influence corporate ESG performance and translate ESG information into business intelligence, which are both key facets of the job. A budding sustainability analyst may find particular value in the course's case study.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Analyst

ESG Consultant

An ESG Consultant advises companies on how to improve their environmental, social, and governance practices, and this course serves to introduce the very frameworks that consultants use. This role works to guide businesses toward more sustainable and responsible operations. The course’s focus on risk identification and stakeholder expectations makes it directly relevant to the work of an ESG Consultant, who must understand and anticipate these pressures. This course will be particularly helpful to an ESG consultant who wishes to advise public market clients on ESG strategies and disclosures, as mentioned in the course’s description.

See salaries and explore the career path for ESG Consultant

Investment Analyst

An Investment Analyst evaluates financial instruments for investment purposes, which increasingly includes ESG factors, and this course offers an in-depth overview of these factors. This role requires a deep understanding of how environmental, social, and governance issues can influence a company's performance and financial outcomes. The course emphasizes the relevance of ESG in making financial decisions, which is critical for those in an investment analyst position. This course's look at both company and investor perspectives will prove valuable to an investment analyst who wishes to take into account ESG when selecting investments.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Analyst

ESG Reporting Specialist

An ESG Reporting Specialist focuses on gathering, analyzing, and reporting a company's environmental, social, and governance data, and this course introduces these key issues. This role requires a thorough understanding of ESG frameworks and how they impact business. The course provides insight into how each component of ESG converges to influence a company and its stakeholders. An ESG Reporting Specialist will gain the knowledge necessary to understand how to translate ESG information into business intelligence, which, in turn, allows them to report on this critical data effectively. The course can be particularly helpful to those who wish to understand how to assess company performance using public information.

See salaries and explore the career path for ESG Reporting Specialist

Corporate Social Responsibility Manager

A Corporate Social Responsibility Manager develops and implements a company's CSR strategies, and this course offers an introduction to the key issues of ESG. This role involves a strong understanding of sustainable business practices. Those in this role will find this course useful as it helps them understand what stakeholders expect of a corporation, especially when it comes to ESG. The course examines how ESG factors influence a company and its stakeholders, informing a Corporate Social Responsibility Manager about what to prioritize in their CSR strategy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Corporate Social Responsibility Manager

Risk Analyst

A Risk Analyst identifies and analyzes potential risks that a company faces, and this course provides an understanding of ESG risks in particular. This role is crucial for protecting a company's interests and profitability. The course, with its direct focus on how ESG supports a company’s risk management and its discussion of corporate pressures and stakeholder expectations, will be useful to a risk analyst. The course assists in building skills in assessing ESG company performance, which is invaluable in a risk analyst's evaluation of potential risks. Risk analysts may find the final case study particularly helpful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Analyst

Financial Analyst

A Financial Analyst provides financial guidance to businesses and investment firms, and this course introduces the importance of ESG factors in such decisionmaking. This role requires an understanding of how ESG influences business performance. The course explicitly explains the relevance of ESG when making financial decisions, which is a core component of a financial analyst's responsibilities. The course may be helpful to a financial analyst who wishes to incorporate ESG insights into their models and recommendations, as ESG has become a key consideration for many investors.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Business Development Manager

A Business Development Manager focuses on growth opportunities for a company, and this course introduces the importance of ESG for these opportunities. This role requires a forward-thinking approach and an understanding of how sustainability can drive business value. The course, through its examination of corporate pressures and stakeholder expectations, may be useful to a business development manager who is seeking to develop new market opportunities. This course also provides a framework for translating ESG information to business intelligence, which helps a business development manager make strategic decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Development Manager

Operations Manager

An Operations Manager oversees the day-to-day activities of a company, and this course introduces ESG factors in the context of daily operations. This role requires efficiency and consideration of all business aspects, including environmental and social impacts. This course may be useful to someone in an operations manager role, as it provides insights into how key ESG issues affect not just a company, but also the value chain that the operations manager touches. The skills learned in this course may help an operations manager identify and manage operational risks, as well.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Data Analyst

A Data Analyst works to extract insight from data to improve decision making. Many companies now publish large amounts of ESG data, and this course helps one understand what is important in these reports and frameworks. This course may be useful for a data analyst by helping them understand how to organize and interpret key ESG data sets. This course emphasizes analyzing ESG risks and opportunities and translating ESG information into business intelligence, which may be a particularly helpful skill for a data analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Public Relations Specialist

A Public Relations Specialist manages the public image of a company, and this course introduces the importance of ESG to that image. The course's discussion of how stakeholder expectations affect a company’s risk and success may be useful to a public relations specialist who is working to manage a company's reputation. This course may help a public relations specialist craft narratives that highlight a company's ESG efforts. The course helps those in communications roles to understand ESG in its totality, allowing them to better discuss it with stakeholders.

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Policy Analyst

A Policy Analyst researches and develops policy recommendations, and this course may be helpful as ESG has become an important area of public policy. This role requires an understanding of how businesses interact with regulations and societal expectations, and this course discusses the core issues at play. This course may help a policy analyst contextualize how ESG factors affect corporate performance, which may be relevant to their work. This course, with its overview of ESG frameworks, can be of value to a policy analyst who wants to understand the implications of ESG and sustainability goals.

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General Management Consultant

A Management Consultant advises companies on their overall strategy and operations, and this course may be helpful as ESG is a key area in these roles. This role requires understanding of diverse business areas. This course’s coverage of ESG may enrich a management consultant’s understanding of how environmental, social, and governance factors influence a business. This course can help a management consultant offer more comprehensive and informed advice, as it includes guidance on stakeholder influence and ESG risks. The case study may broaden a consultant's understanding of the application of ESG frameworks.

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Supply Chain Manager

A Supply Chain Manager oversees the flow of goods and services in a business, and an understanding of ESG is increasingly relevant to this role. This role requires a broad overview of operations and an understanding of risk. The course may be useful to a supply chain manager, as it helps them understand risks related to ESG, especially with the course's treatment of how corporate pressures and stakeholder expectations influence business decisions. This course may help with selecting more sustainable and responsible supply chains.

See salaries and explore the career path for Supply Chain Manager

Product Manager

A Product Manager guides the development of products, and this course may be helpful for understanding how product development can be guided by ESG principles. Those in this role must consider market trends and societal demands. This course may be useful to a product manager by helping them understand the impact of ESG issues on product development and market acceptance. The course emphasizes how ESG factors can influence both a company and its stakeholders, which can be directly applicable to a product manager's work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Introduction to ESG.

Modern China

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Provides a comprehensive overview of sustainable investing strategies and their impact on financial performance. It explores how ESG factors can be integrated into investment decision-making processes. It valuable resource for understanding the practical application of ESG principles in the investment world. This book adds depth to the course by providing real-world examples and case studies.

Modern China: Financial Cooperation for Solving...

Kindle Edition

Putting Knowledge to Work

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Explores the practical application of ESG investing on Wall Street. It examines how ESG factors are integrated into investment strategies and decision-making processes. It provides insights into the challenges and opportunities of ESG investing in the financial industry. This book is valuable as additional reading to understand the real-world implementation of ESG principles.

Putting Knowledge to Work

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Putting Knowledge to Work

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Introduction to ESG

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What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Solid foundation in esg concepts

Activities

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