About the Course
ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles are transforming the business and financial landscape. This 9-week, self-paced course offers you essential skills and insights to understand the fundamentals of ESG and how to apply them in a business or investor setting. This course has been created and taught by Nawar Alsaadi, a renowned sustainable business leader and ESG practitioner.
*** An earlier version of this course was launched by Nawar Alsaadi on Linkedin on July 21st 2024. It quickly became a sustainability phenomenon leading to over 300,000 impressions, and 4000 engagements, by the time the course concluded on Sept 15th 2024.
What You Will Learn
Understand ESG foundations, origins, drivers, and its role in business and finance. Explore the ongoing fusion of business and sustainability.
Learn the fundamentals of ESG reporting, it’s evolution. Familiarize yourself with the most relevant ESG reporting and disclosure frameworks.​
Learn how to integrate sustainability data, research and metrics in corporate strategy. And how to leverage ESG to create financial value and optimize risk and return.
Appreciate the intricacies of sustainability policy and regulations. Grasp the risks associated with Greenwashing.
Course Format
Multi-format approach to keep you engaged.
Videos
Readings
Case Studies
Course Curriculum
Welcome to the course
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Message from your Instructor
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Course Outline
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Before we get started
Week 1: Unpacking ESG, Origins, Purpose, and Impact
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Intro to Week 1
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What is ESG? Explainer
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Introduction to ESG Principles
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Exploring the E, S and G in ESG
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Why does ESG matter?
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ESG Ratings Are Not What They Seem
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Finding Purpose and Managing Stakeholders: The New Story of Business
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Test your learnings
Week 2: Environmental Foundations: Climate Change, Carbon,
and Natural Resources
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Welcome to Week 2
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Intro to Week 2
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Environmental Factors Explainer by ED4S
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Environmental Factors in ESG
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Causes and Effects of Climate Change
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Environmental Factors Causes and Mitigation
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Net Zero Explained
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Can you reach net zero by 2050?
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Water sobriety, alternative sources and circular models
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Biodiversity Loss – The Hidden Threat to Our Economy
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The global movement to restore nature's biodiversity
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What is the just transition and what does it mean for climate action?
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BHP Climate Action Plan
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(Optional) Building a Nature-Positive Energy Transformation
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Test your learnings
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Week 2 Forum Discussion
Week 3: Environmental Foundations: Climate Change, Carbon,
and Natural Resources
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Welcome to Week 3
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Intro to Week 3
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Social Factors in ESG
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Social Factors Explainer
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ESG Social Risks Overview
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The UN Global Compact
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Beyond Environmental Impact: The Case of Social in ESG
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What is diversity, equity, and inclusion?
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Deciphering the Value of S in ESG
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(Optional) Why businesses are measuring social factors as part of their ESG performance
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Test your learnings
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Week 3 Forum Discussion
Week 4: Governance in ESG: Principles, Oversight, and Corporate
Accountability
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Welcome to Week 4
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Intro to Week 4
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Governance Factors in ESG
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Introduction to Corporate Governance
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From Insights To Action
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ICGN Global Governance Principles
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ESG Oversight – Interview with Barbara Berlin, Managing Director, PwC
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(Optional) Sustainability and ESG oversight: The Corporate Director’s Guide
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(Optional) Corporate governance and Company Performance
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(Deep Dive - Optional) Sustainability and Corporate Governance
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Test your learning
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Week 4 Forum Discussion
Week 5: Embedding ESG in Business Strategy and Value Creation
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Intro to Week 5
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ESG Integration in Corporate Strategy
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Embedding Sustainability into the Core of Business Strategy
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How Your Corporate Strategy Can Deliver Both Growth and Sustainability
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Introduction to Functional Integration
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Integrating ESG Into Strategy
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Five Ways That ESG Creates Value
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Beyond Checking The Box - How to create business value with embedded sustainability
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How Apollo Equity Helps Drive Value Through Portfolio Company Decarbonization
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Sustainable Value Creation - Closing the gap between stated commitments and operational realities
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Test your learnings
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Week 5 Forum Discussion
Week 6: ESG Reporting and Disclosure: Standards, Challenges and Accountability
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Welcome to Week 6
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Intro to Week 6
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Sustainability Reporting Explainer
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What is ESG reporting?
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Understanding ESG Reporting
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Evolution of ESG Reporting Frameworks
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Why is ESG so difficult in practice? Understanding the challenges of ESG disclosure
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Global ESG Disclosure Standards Converge: ISSB Finalizes IFRS S1 and IFRS S2
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Executive Summary of the SEC’s Landmark Climate Disclosure Rule
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What is the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)?
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The Effects of Mandatory ESG Disclosure Around the World
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Aggregate Confusion
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Test your learnings
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Week 6 Forum Discussion
Week 7: ESG Investing: Strategies, Impact, and Financial Impact
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Welcome to Week 7
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Intro to Week 7
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Sustainable Investing
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Sustainable Investing Strategies
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Definitions for Responsible Investment Approaches
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What is Impact Investing?
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How Investors Use Sustainability Information?
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Integrating ESG Factors In The Investment Decision-Making Process Of Institutional Investors
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Re-Evaluating the Case for Sustainable Investing Today
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Does ESG Investing Improve Risk-Adjusted Performance?
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Transition Investing: Exploring Alpha Potential
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The Financial Cost of Carbon
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The People Factor
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Test your learnings
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Week 7 Forum Discussion
Week 8: ESG Policy and Regulation: Navigating the Global Landscape
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Welcome to Week 8
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Intro to Week 8
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Environmental Policy Approaches
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Sustainability and ESG-Related Regulations Are on the Rise Globally
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Six Ways That Governments Can Drive The Green Transition
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Laws and Regulations for Just and Sustainable Business
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Greenwashing: Navigating the Risk
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Greenwashing: When Companies Aren’t as Sustainable as They Claim
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How Biden's Inflation Reduction Act Changed The World
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ESG & Sustainability Policy Worldwide
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11 Policy Ideas To Protect The Planet
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Test your learning
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Week 8 Forum Discussion
Week 9: Case Studies in ESG Excellence: Corporate Transformations in Practice
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Welcome to Week 9
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Intro to Week 9
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Case 1: Royal DSM - Instructions
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Case 1: Royal DSM - Your Analysis
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Case 2: Danone - Instructions
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Case 2: Danone - Your Analysis
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Case 3: Ingka Group (IKEA) - Instructions
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Case 3: Ingka Group (IKEA) - Your Analysis
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Case 4: Signify - Instructions
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Case 4: Signify - Your Analysis
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Case Studies Questions Slides
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Case 1: Royal DSM - Answers and explanation
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Before you complete the course
Your Instructor
Instructor
Nawar Alsaadi, SIPC, FSA
Nawar Alsaadi the CEO and Founder of Kanata Advisors, an ESG Fintech advisory firm based in Toronto, Canada. He is also the CEO and Co-founder, of KanataQ, the sustainability solutions hub. Prior to these roles, Nawar held several senior ESG-related positions, including Chief Impact Officer at ScopeFour Capital, Senior Portfolio Manager for ESG Investing at Canada Post Pension Plan, and Director of ESG Insights at NEI Investments, among other executive and advisory roles.
Earn Certificate of Participation
Earn Recognized CPD Credits
Training hours may qualify for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits with professional development bodies.
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