Sustainability Reporting

Corporate social responsibility programs are considered an organizational best practice. A focus on sustainability helps organizations manage their social and environmental impacts, improving their bottom line. Just as importantly, the disclosure of such activities has become a topic of importance for stakeholders such as employees, customers, investors and the government.

In this 2-day course participants will gain the knowledge to start or enhance their organization’s sustainability reporting projects through providing a current and relevant overview of the sustainability reporting universe.

Students will gain a strong understanding of sustainability reporting frameworks, best practices, pitfalls to avoid, and ways to ensure their sustainability reporting is meaningful and value-added to their organization. This will be done through discussion, review of up-to-date research, and analysis of current existing sustainability reports. Additionally, participants will gain an enhanced ability to assess and evaluate other organization’s sustainability reports.

COURSE OUTCOMES

Participants will leave with:

• An up-to-date understanding of the state of sustainability reporting internationally, with a focus on Canadian content
• In-depth insight into the most widely accepted sustainability reporting frameworks, with a focus on the Global Reporting Initiative
• Knowledge regarding sustainability best practices, with a focus on areas where sustainability reporting can provide true added value to an organization
• An awareness of common sustainability reporting pitfalls which typically require significant effort with little organizational benefit
• Tips, tools, and best practices to being or enhance their own organization’s sustainability reporting efforts
• The ability to better assess and evaluate information in other organization’s sustainability reports
• A larger network of like-minded professionals

For more information, see the School of the Environment's course page for Sustainability Reporting.