Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Expert Training from Udemy

The Objectives of the course is to provide knowledge about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental Social Governance (ESG). Above all, the course encompasses different ways of managing sustainability for both internal improvements and external improvements. The main objective is to transfer the fundamental knowledge into tangible practical projects.

You will learn about measuring and communicating about sustainability. The most current systems will be known, such as the Global Reporting Initiative

After knowing different certifications and audits, a case of Green Washing can be distinguished from truly sustainable and ethical cases. In this way you also learn to be a genuinely sustainable and ethical organization.

As a result of all this work, a practical final project is designed to meet the real needs of the company.

Why do we need a sustainable and ethical management?

Companies and organizations have to face two big challenges today. One is digitalization and the second is sustainability. Not only ideological reasons require but also economic reasons urge for action. The political environment and the market require the management of social and environmental impact as well as the economic one.

Since the EU has put the new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) directive into effect, large companies are already required by law to report their impact on society. New audiences demand that companies be sustainable and ethical; investors increasingly value responsible companies and finally the company itself can obtain several benefits from sustainable management. Moreover, the Green New Deal and the Circular Action Plan of the EU will not only shape Europe’s future but many other countries’ as well.

Besides, financial markets are changing and starting to value sustainable and ethical investments. Investments amounts into sustainable products experience constant increases and just recently most important financial data bases offer data on so called Environmental Social Governance (ESG). More and more, we need to report and assess our social economic impact and be able to manage it.

The course is designed to transmit the knowledge, tools and skills necessary to face this change and to prepare the organization to begin its path towards sustainability.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Understand current trends and opportunities for sustainable business
Develop an esg strategy

Measure your environmental and social impact
Learn how to avoid greenwashing and how to communicate your impact

Understand current trends and opportunities for sustainable business
Develop an esg strategy
Measure your environmental and social impact
Learn how to avoid greenwashing and how to communicate your impact

Syllabus

Introduction to ESG and sustainable management

In this unit we will have an introduction into sustainability and sustainable management. We will ask the questions: why is it necessary to become more sustainable and how can a company approach this question by practical action.

In this lecture we will show what climate neutrality and the term net zero mean. We will provide an introduction to Green House Gas emissions protocol, learn how to differentiate between different scopes and discuss the meaning of compensating your CO2 Footprint.

In the second part of the lecture we will define the circular economy and describe the biological and technical cycle that makes the circular economy. in this context we will also discuss different good practice case studies.

In this video we present the new EU taxonomy for sustainable activities. The EU Taxonomy is a milestone in regulation for sustainability and an essential part of the Green New Deal. This taxonomy defines which economic activities are considered as sustainable and which are unsustainable.

learn about different management and certification systems

In this session we will learn how to create your own sustainability roadmap.

In this section of the course we will learn about different management approaches to sustainability. We will learn key factors for successful sustainable business strategies and operations. One fundamental part of sustainable management is the stakeholder approach. We will get a deep understanding of this part and learn how to apply CSR values to different stakeholders.

Learn about different measurement systems for sustainability.

In this part of the course we will tackle the issue of measuring your impact and your CSR footprint. There are different standards, systems and certification companies can choose from. We depict the most common and useful standards with the aim of providing an overview and giving you guidance to choose the optimal system for your own strategy.

In the second part of how to measure your impact we will talk about Bcorporations and Bcorp certification and other certification sytems for your triple bottom line impact.

Case Study

Patagonia Case Study – ESG Status Quo Analysis

How to communicate your impact

"Do good and talk about it". Only credible communication of CSR is valuable to increase impact and be an authentic change maker. We will show techniques and examples on how to authetically communicate your value to society and your stakeholders.

Finalize the course and get an expert certificate of proficiency

ESG roadmap and strategy development

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores the EU Taxonomy for sustainable activities, which is a key regulatory framework shaping sustainable business practices and essential for understanding the Green New Deal

Covers the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), which is a widely recognized framework for sustainability reporting and helps organizations measure and communicate their environmental, social, and governance performance

Teaches how to develop a sustainability roadmap, which is a practical tool for guiding organizations in setting and achieving their sustainability goals and integrating sustainability into their overall strategy

Examines the stakeholder approach to sustainable management, which is crucial for understanding how CSR values can be applied to different stakeholders and for building strong relationships with those affected by an organization's activities

Discusses climate neutrality and net zero, which are increasingly important concepts for organizations aiming to reduce their environmental impact and contribute to global climate goals

Requires learners to understand the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) directive, which may pose a challenge for learners outside of the EU, as the directive is specific to EU regulations and may not be directly applicable in other regions

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 Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Expert Training with these activities:

Review Key Concepts of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

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Strengthen your understanding of CSR principles, which form the foundation for ESG strategies discussed in the course.

Browse courses on Corporate Social Responsibility

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Review definitions of CSR and its core components.
Research the history and evolution of CSR.
Identify the key benefits of CSR for businesses and society.

Review 'Sustainable Business: An Executive's Toolkit'

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Gain practical insights into building a sustainable business model and aligning it with ESG principles.

View Sustainable Value: How the World's Leading... on Amazon

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Read the book's introduction and overview of sustainable business.
Focus on chapters related to measurement and communication of sustainability.
Summarize key takeaways and how they relate to the course content.

Develop a Preliminary ESG Strategy for a Hypothetical Company

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Apply the concepts learned in the course to create a tangible ESG strategy, reinforcing your understanding of the process.

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Choose a hypothetical company or use your own organization.
Identify key stakeholders and their ESG expectations.
Define material ESG issues for the company.
Set preliminary ESG goals and targets.

Four other activities

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Create a Presentation on Greenwashing

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Deepen your understanding of greenwashing by researching examples and creating a presentation to educate others.

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Research examples of greenwashing in different industries.
Identify the key characteristics of greenwashing.
Create a presentation outlining the dangers of greenwashing.
Present strategies for identifying and avoiding greenwashing.

Review 'The ESG Mirage'

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Gain a critical perspective on the challenges and limitations of ESG implementation and reporting.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Read the book's introduction and overview of ESG challenges.
Focus on chapters related to greenwashing and impact measurement.
Summarize key criticisms of ESG and their implications.

Develop a Data Visualization of ESG Performance

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Enhance your ability to analyze and communicate ESG data by creating a compelling data visualization.

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Select a company or industry to analyze.
Gather ESG data from reputable sources.
Choose appropriate visualization techniques (e.g., charts, graphs).
Create a clear and informative data visualization.
Write a brief analysis of the visualization's key findings.

Volunteer at a Sustainability-Focused Organization

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Gain practical experience in sustainability initiatives and network with professionals in the field.

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Identify local organizations focused on sustainability.
Contact the organization and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Participate in volunteer activities and document your experience.

Career center

Learners who complete Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Expert Training will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Sustainability Consultant

A sustainability consultant advises organizations on how to operate more sustainably and ethically, which is directly addressed by this course. They help businesses develop strategies to reduce their environmental impact and improve social responsibility, often by implementing the kinds of frameworks discussed in the program. This role requires an understanding of ESG principles, impact measurement, and effective communication, all of which are covered. This course develops the skills necessary to help organizations navigate the complexities of sustainable management and meet the growing demands for corporate responsibility.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Consultant

ESG Analyst

An ESG analyst evaluates companies based on their environmental, social, and governance performance. This course provides an excellent foundation for this career, teaching the main principles of ESG and showing how to implement sustainability strategies. The course materials will help an ESG analyst understand how to measure sustainability impact, and how to differentiate between true sustainability and greenwashing tactics. This is critical for informing investment decisions, assessing risk, and helping companies improve their ESG profile. This course prepares you for the detailed work that an ESG analyst performs daily.

See salaries and explore the career path for ESG Analyst

Corporate Social Responsibility Manager

A corporate social responsibility manager develops and implements a company's CSR strategy, closely aligned with the sustainability principles taught in this course. This role directly applies its learnings, which include measuring environmental and social impact, avoiding greenwashing, and communicating results effectively. A CSR manager needs to understand the evolving landscape of CSR, including regulatory changes like the EU's CSR directive, and the course specifically includes information on this topic. The skills you acquire in this course are excellent for performing the tasks of a corporate social responsibility manager.

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

Sustainability Reporting Specialist

A sustainability reporting specialist is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and reporting data related to a company's sustainability performance, using frameworks like the Global Reporting Initiative covered in this course. They ensure compliance with regulations and communicate the company's ESG performance to stakeholders. This course provides the necessary skills to measure impact, understand reporting standards, and avoid greenwashing, which are all useful in this field. This course could help you fulfill the daily tasks performed by a sustainability reporting specialist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Reporting Specialist

Environmental Compliance Officer

An environmental compliance officer ensures an organization adheres to environmental regulations and standards. This role is vital in helping companies meet their sustainability objectives by ensuring they follow best practices, as taught in this course. The course's emphasis on understanding different management and certification systems, as well as how to measure environmental impact, is useful in this role. An environmental compliance officer will need to understand these frameworks to be successful. This program provides a strong base of understanding for entering this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Compliance Officer

Sustainability Program Manager

A sustainability program manager develops and manages sustainability initiatives within an organization, using the practical knowledge this course focuses on providing. They oversee projects, set goals, measure progress, and ensure the alignment of sustainability efforts with business objectives. A sustainability program manager must be able to use reporting methods and strategy development, as taught in the course, to effectively implement sustainability strategies. This course could be a great starting point for a sustainability program manager.

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ESG Integration Specialist

An ESG integration specialist works to embed ESG factors into the core functions of an organization. They develop strategies for integrating sustainability considerations into business operations, investment decisions, and risk management, much like the material covered in the course. The program's emphasis on measuring impact, developing strategies, and understanding regulatory requirements such as the EU taxonomy is quite helpful for this role. This course may be useful if you wish to work as an ESG integration specialist.

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Ethical Sourcing Specialist

An ethical sourcing specialist ensures that a company's supply chain adheres to ethical and sustainable practices. This role requires an understanding of different sustainability standards and how to assess the social and environmental impact of operations, which this course covers. The course's discussion on CSR values and stakeholder engagement will help this specialist build better supply chains. This course may help an ethical sourcing specialist make a positive impact in their daily work.

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Impact Investment Analyst

An impact investment analyst evaluates potential investments based on their social and environmental impact. This course provides a foundational understanding of how to measure impact and assess different sustainability reporting frameworks, which is essential for this role. The course's training to differentiate between greenwashing and genuine sustainability will help an impact investment analyst identify strong opportunities. This course can be useful for professionals entering an impact investment role, especially when considering the emphasis on authentic sustainability.

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Renewable Energy Consultant

A renewable energy consultant advises on the transition to renewable energy sources, which is discussed in the course in relation to climate neutrality. While the course is not focused exclusively on renewable energy, the principles of sustainability and impact measurement taught in the course are useful for those in this field. This role will need a strong grasp of the concepts of climate impact, emissions, and how to compensate for a carbon footprint, which the program addresses. This course may prove helpful for new renewable energy consultants or those seeking to expand their understanding of sustainability.

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Circular Economy Specialist

A circular economy specialist works on strategies to minimize waste and maximize the use of resources by implementing biological and technical cycles, which this course directly discusses. The course's introduction to the circular economy and its principles provides a theoretical foundation for entering this role. The course's discussion of good practices within a circular economy is also useful for this role. Though the course does not focus exclusively on this issue, understanding the circular economy is essential to fulfilling this role. This course may be valuable for someone seeking to become a circular economy specialist.

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Nonprofit Sustainability Coordinator

A nonprofit sustainability coordinator drives sustainability initiatives within a nonprofit organization, applying the ESG principles taught in this course. They develop strategies, measure impact, and communicate results to stakeholders, all of which are addressed by the program. The course will teach a nonprofit sustainability coordinator how to incorporate sustainability into their organization and communicate its value. This course may be useful for one entering the field of non-profit sustainability.

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Community Engagement Specialist

A community engagement specialist develops and manages programs to foster positive community relations and social impact, which is related to the focus on social responsibility in this course. Though this role is not exclusively focused on sustainability, it demands an understanding of social impact, which the course provides. A community engagement specialist needs to understand how to communicate a company's value to stakeholders, a topic taught by this course. Community engagement specialists may find this course to be of some use, especially when considering its discussion of ethical practices.

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Supply Chain Analyst

A supply chain analyst focuses on optimizing a company's supply chain for efficiency and sustainability, the latter being a strong point of this class. While this role is not exclusively focused on ESG, understanding social and environmental impact, as taught in the course, can help a supply chain analyst make better decisions. This course may be useful for those entering the field of supply chain analysis, especially when considering the ethical dimension.

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Public Relations Specialist

A public relations specialist manages a company's public image, which increasingly involves communicating its sustainability efforts, which this course discusses. While the role does not focus on sustainability, this course may be a helpful way to understand the core tenets of sustainability so that a public relations specialist can communicate them effectively. The class teaches authentic communication of a company's value to society, which is of special importance to a public relations professional. This course may help one to understand the language and values of sustainability, and thus prove useful to them as a public relations specialist.

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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 Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Expert Training.

Putting Knowledge to Work

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Critically examines the limitations and challenges of ESG investing and reporting. It explores the potential for greenwashing and the difficulties in accurately measuring social and environmental impact. Reading this book will provide a balanced perspective on ESG and help you develop a more nuanced understanding of its complexities. It valuable resource for understanding the limitations of ESG and developing a more critical perspective.

Putting Knowledge to Work

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Putting Knowledge to Work

Kindle Edition

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Sustainable Value

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Provides a practical framework for integrating sustainability into business strategy. It offers tools and techniques for measuring and managing environmental and social impact. It valuable resource for understanding how to translate ESG principles into actionable plans. This book is particularly helpful for understanding the business case for sustainability and developing a roadmap for implementation.

Sustainable Value: How the World's Leading...

Kindle Edition

Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Expert Training

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Good to know

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Activities

Career center

Reading list

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