*** GreenTech Skillnet is proudly collaborating with Chartered Accountants Ireland to deliver this Programme with a 30% discount. To register for the course and receive your discount code, please contact the Life Long Learning team at LLL@charteredaccountants.ie, referencing GreenTech. ***

Date: From 26 September 2024 to 27 February 2025
Time: 18:00 - 21:00 
Venue: Online 
Cost: €2,995 (member of CAI) | Subsidised Cost: €2,095 (30% off)
€3,295 (Non-member) | Subsidised Cost: €2,305 (30% off)

Course Overview  

The development and roll out of Sustainability Reporting Standards around the world has arrived like a speeding train, as the profession seeks to respond appropriately to the unfolding climate emergency. Now accountants are being asked to jump onto this moving train, a daunting task.

Chartered Accountants Ireland believe accountants will play a leading role in the implementation of the new European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the data as well as managing the collation and verification of the non-financial data. As sustainability reporting continues to evolve, accountants will assume a leadership role, shaping and advancing the agenda, driving the integration of financial and sustainability practices for a more responsible and resilient business future.

Course Content 

MODULE 1: SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING- THE LANDSCAPE

Module Description:

On successful completion of this module participants will have the ability to identify and evaluate the rationale, purpose, and main features of CSRD. They will be exposed to the context in which the legislation was constructed and currently exists by becoming familiar with the GRI, TCFD, TNFD and the ISSB/SASB. 

Finally, participations will develop an appreciation for industry and sector-specific reporting requirements and will be introduced to the concept of materiality in the sustainability reporting context.

Module Learning Outcomes: 

On successful completion of this module the participant will be able to:

• Identify the fundamental purpose and objectives of the CSRD and the ISSB Standards.
• Evaluate the broader international sustainability regulatory context.
• Anticipate the implementation of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and the ISSB Standards, in terms of regulatory oversight, relevant entities and effective dates.
• Recognise key terminology used in the standards and the associated data required in their application.
• Define the concept of materiality in the context of the ESRS and the ISSB standards and apply this concept to environmental and social issues.

MODULE 2: GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Module Description: 

This module familiarises participants with the general requirements of the ESRS that undertakings must comply with when preparing and presenting sustainability-related information in the EU. It introduces the cross-cutting disclosure requirements of sustainability reporting that are of a general nature, and relate to strategy and business model, governance of sustainability, and materiality assessment of sustainability impacts, risks, and opportunities. The importance of information about sustainability-related risks and opportunities to primary users of general-purpose financial reports is considered with a specific focus on the impact of such risks and opportunities on an entity’s prospects. The module also acquaints participants with policies and legislation in place to circumvent corruption and bribery in the business of an undertaking.

Module Learning Outcomes: 

On successful completion of this module the participant will be able to: 

• Recognise the criteria required to comply with the ESRS and the ISSB standards and the responsibilities of the parties involved in sustainability reporting for an undertaking.
  
• Demonstrate the application of the principle of materiality and double materiality and perform materiality assessments as required by the ESRSs and the ISSB standards using quantitative and qualitative data.
• Evaluate the potential impact of sustainability-related risks and opportunities on an entity’s cash flows, access to finance and cost of capital.
• Appreciate due diligence processes and engage in associated mapping exercises.
• Identify the implications for governance and compliance frameworks, including policies, procedures and controls required to identify, measure, and manage activity subject to reporting requirements.

MODULE 3: CLIMATE CHANGE 

Module Description: 

This module engages participants with climate change with the objective of achieving the knowledge and understanding required to report relevant, verifiable, and comparable metrics on an undertaking’s impact on climate change and the impact of climate change on the undertaking. Participants will assess climate change issues from a double materiality perspective and make associated disclosures.

Module Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module the participant will be able to:

• Appreciate key concepts and international benchmarks related to climate change.
• Measure, and communicate measures of, energy use from a climate change perspective.
• Report carbon and Green House Gas (GHG) emissions in a manner related to financial and operational performance which can be compared over time and within an industry.
• Identify exposure to climate-related risks, measure and report the intensity of such risks in scientific and financial terms and make associated materiality assessments.
• Identify, measure, and report on climate-related opportunities in both scientific and financial terms.

MODULE 4: OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING MATTERS 

Module Description: 

The requirements of ESRS dealing with environmental matters beyond those directly associated with climate change. Covering the areas of emissions, water and marine, land and agriculture, and waste, the module introduces the metrics and disclosures central to reporting the undertaking’s performance in managing environmental risks, material and otherwise, alongside its financial performance.

Module Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module the participant will be able to:

• Identify and apply measures of an undertaking’s emissions of pollutants and harmful substances to air and water and make associated narrative disclosures.
• Appreciate the need for an undertaking to consider the impact of its operations on oceans and seas and relate this to measures of water usage in the undertaking and its value chain.
• Identify the drivers of deforestation and report accordingly on the entity’s impact on deforestation resulting from its land and agriculture practices and policies.
• Classify waste generated within the undertaking and its value chain and report related metrics on waste-production and waste-management.
• Perform materiality assessments using data on emissions, water, land and agriculture, and waste.

MODULE 5: WORKFORCE 

Module Description:

This module enables participants to evaluate, measure and make requisite disclosures on an undertaking’s policies, practices, and performance in ensuring fair, equitable and safe treatment of workers. Relevant human rights and labour policies are considered and associated metrics and disclosures introduced and applied. The concepts of fairness and equity are addressed in relation to issues including pay and grievance mechanisms such that relevant reporting requirements may be adequately fulfilled. 

Module Learning Outcomes: 

On successful completion of this module the participant will be able to:

• Identify policy commitments an undertaking should make with respect to human rights and labour, and report adherence to these commitments.
• Measure, and communicate measures of, worker protection within the undertaking and throughout its value chain.
• Recognise and report adherence to health and safety policies and principles implemented to safeguard workers.
• Evaluate workforce treatment from the perspective of equity and fairness and report relevant metrics in this respect.
• Assess workforce-related risks and opportunities throughout the value chain and report the results of such assessments.

MODULE 6: OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AND THE USE OF SUSTAINABILITY REPORTS 

Module Description:

Module six examines community and market-level impacts of social sustainability policies with the objective of enabling participants to report on the undertaking’s adherence to its responsibilities to affected stakeholders. Participants will assess the materiality of a range of social issues using relevant data and context. The module concludes with an examination of the needs of the users of sustainability reports and assurance considerations. The fundamental importance of reliability, accuracy, and integrity in sustainability reporting is considered. The manner in which sustainability metrics may be connected to, and integrated with, financial metrics is examined and sustainability reports are reviewed from an analytical perspective.

Module Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module the participant will be able to:

• Appreciate a variety of relationships between undertakings and their stakeholders and identify requisite disclosures to be made on the management of such relations.
• Assess the materiality of social issues within an undertaking and its value chain.
• Apply sustainability reporting standards to data while ensuring reliability, accuracy, and integrity in reporting.
• Explain the assurance requirements for sustainability reporting in context of current and emerging developments.
• Interrogate disclosures and reported metrics to make comparisons of sustainability performance over time and between undertakings.

Entry Criteria 

This programme has been designed to meet the needs of professionals who require an understanding of sustainability in business, and we welcome applications from:

• Holders of a degree at Level 8 on the NFQ or an equivalent qualification
• Members and students of Chartered Accountants Ireland
• Members of other recognised professional bodies including ICAS, ICAEW, ACCA, CIMA and CPA
• Individuals with relevant experience in finance, business or other relevant fields

All applicants other than members of Chartered Accountants Ireland will be asked to submit evidence of
their qualifications or experience with their application. (See our admission & awards criteria page for
more details.

How You Are Assessed

The Diploma will be assessed through two practical home assignments which will enable you to demonstrate and consolidate your learning.

Accreditations and Designations 

Members of Chartered Accountants Ireland and ICAS will be awarded a Diploma in Sustainability from Chartered Accountants Ireland under the 1966 ICAI Charter Amendment Act. Other participants will be awarded the Diploma in Sustainability Reporting by Chartered Accountants Ireland Executive Education.

How You Will Study

Facilitated by an experienced and engaging team, the Diploma in Sustainability is delivered entirely online and assessed using a virtual learning environment. Our approach links the key module concepts with real business issues, and provides participants with a tangible output that they can take back and use to advance their role and career. Our learning management platform, Moodle, hosts all course materials and activities e.g. prerecorded videos, course notes and slides, links to live sessions, and timetables. The platform also allows participants to network and share questions.

This approach to learning will provide you a flexible learning experience and with the knowledge to enable you operate effectively in this area.

Programme Tutors

Lead tutor:
Dr Louise Gorman - Assistant Professor in Finance at Trinity College Dublin

• Louise has lectured and researched in the areas of accounting, finance, corporate governance and sustainability reporting.
• Louise is a non-executive director and regularly contributes to publications and events in the areas of corporate governance and sustainability at national and international level in the academic and professional communities. 

Dr Na Fu - Professor of Human Resource Management at Trinity Business School, Fellow at Trinity College Dublin

•  She was the Founder and Director of MSc Human Resource Management between 2016 to 2021, a triple-accredited programme and Lead for Digital Workplace at the Trinity Centre for Digital Business.
•  Professor Fu’s research focuses on strategic human resource management, professional service firms, people analytics and digital transformation.

Cormac Madden - Environmental and Sustainability Manager 

• Cormac holds a Master of Science (MSc) from Edinburgh Napier University in Leadership Communication and is an expert on Environmental and Sustainability performance. 
• Cormac is Environmental and Sustainability Manager with Irish energy provider ESB where he has been responsible for coordinating our Environmental and Sustainability performance and goals across ESB Group.

Orla Carolan - Director Grant Thornton 

• Orla is director in Financial Services Advisory and Head of Finance Advisory Service Line with a specialisation in sustainability reporting. 
• Orla was part of the EU wide, EFRAG working group who developed ESRS (European Sustainability Reporting Standards). Prior to this she worked in investment funds sector having held a senior leadership position with J.P Morgan.

Dave Fitzgerald - Sustainability Director, Ornua 

• Dave leads sustainability at Ornua, Ireland’s largest dairy export business and owner of the Kerrygold brand. At Ornua he is responsible for strategy development and embedding of sustainability governance and delivery across the business.
• He has worked across all aspects of sustainability in the food and beverage sector, building a group sustainability strategy and function and more recently as head of European responsible sourcing and sustainable agriculture.