PROGRAM DETAILS

Program Overview

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations are now integral to the operational and strategic decisions of organizations worldwide. Beyond ethics and sustainability, ESG issues pose substantial financial, legal, and reputational risks. Regulators are implementing stricter reporting requirements, stakeholders are demanding transparency, and investors are scrutinizing non-financial disclosures.

“Sustaining Risks in ESG” is a specialized training program designed to equip risk professionals, compliance officers, sustainability leaders, and senior executives with advanced understanding and tools to identify, assess, and mitigate ESG-related risks. The program delves into the evolving landscape of ESG regulations, reputational implications of ESG failures, and the need for a robust ESG-aligned risk management framework. It emphasizes regulatory compliance (including MSG and other international standards), structured sustainability reporting, and the development of long-term risk strategies that align with stakeholder expectations and corporate values.

Participants will engage with case studies, risk mapping exercises, and scenario planning to develop and implement ESG risk frameworks aligned with international best practices and customized for their industries and geographies.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Understand the full spectrum of ESG risks, including regulatory and reputational risks.
• Interpret and comply with relevant ESG-related regulations and Minimum Standards & Guidelines (MSG).
• Develop and implement risk frameworks that integrate ESG dimensions.
• Build strategies for effective ESG risk mitigation and reporting.
• Navigate global sustainability reporting frameworks (GRI, SASB, ISSB, etc.).
• Strengthen stakeholder trust through transparency and governance alignment.

Target Audience:

The training program is suitable for professionals working in:

• ESG and Sustainability Managers
• Risk and Compliance Officers
• Corporate Strategy Executives
• Legal and Regulatory Affairs Professionals
• Board Members and Senior Management
• Internal Auditors and Corporate Reporting Specialists

Training Methodology

• Expert-led lectures and presentations
• Group exercises and risk simulation scenarios
• Real-world case studies and industry analysis
• Interactive discussions and peer learning
• ESG risk toolkits and templates for application
• Pre- and post-assessment for knowledge benchmarking

Program Content

Day 1: Understanding ESG Risk Landscape

• Introduction to ESG: Principles, Drivers, and Trends
• ESG Risk Typology: Environmental, Social, and Governance Risks
• Regulatory Landscape: Global and Regional Regulations (EU Taxonomy, SFDR, SEC, TCFD, PACT, etc.)
• Role of Boards and Leadership in ESG Risk Oversight
• Introduction to ESG Risk Heat Mapping
• Activity: ESG risk identification workshop
• Case study: ESG failure & reputational damage

Day 2: Regulatory Compliance & MSG Standards

• ESG Regulatory Compliance Frameworks
• Minimum Standards & Guidelines (MSG): Structure and Implications
• National and Sectoral ESG Guidelines (e.g., for Oil & Gas, Finance, Mining, etc.)
• Governance and Disclosure Obligations
• Legal Liabilities and Compliance Enforcement Risks
• Activity: MSG compliance checklist exercise
• Activity: Mapping compliance risks with internal audit

Day 3: ESG Risk Frameworks & Integration into ERM

• Integrating ESG into Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)
• Designing an ESG Risk Management Framework
• Risk Appetite and ESG Materiality Assessments
• Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) and ESG Monitoring
• Third-party and Supply Chain ESG Risks
• Activity: Build a sample ESG risk register
• Group simulation: ESG risk scenario planning

Day 4: Reputational Risk & Stakeholder Engagement

• Understanding ESG-Related Reputational Risk
• Crisis Management and ESG Scandals
• Role of Social Media and Public Perception
• Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Strategies
• Transparency, Trust, and ESG Branding
• Activity: Stakeholder mapping and engagement planning

Day 5: ESG Reporting & Assurance

• ESG Reporting Standards: GRI, SASB, ISSB, CDP, and TCFD
• Double Materiality and Reporting Alignment
• ESG Data Collection and Assurance Processes
• Preparing Sustainability and Integrated Reports
• Linking ESG Reports with Financial Disclosures and MSG Compliance
• ESG reporting framework comparison matrix
• Build a draft ESG disclosure for your organization