Effective Guide To Sustainability Reporting - TGS-2022602505

What is Sustainability reporting and why is it important? 

Sustainability reporting is the practice of publicly disclosing a company's social, environmental, and economic performance. This reporting is also known as corporate sustainability reporting, corporate social responsibility reporting, or environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting.

A sustainability report usually involves non-financial reporting, including aspects such as customer service and climate change, and how they affect value creation. This cumulates into a non-financial reporting directive (NFRD) that helps stakeholders holistically evaluate the company's performance.

Sustainability reporting is becoming increasingly important as companies are held to higher standards of accountability and transparency, and stakeholders (such as investors, customers, employees, and regulators) demand more information about a company's sustainability practices. The reporting provides an opportunity for companies to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and showcase their efforts to address social and environmental issues. For instance, since 2023, the European Union (EU) legislation on Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) has taken effect, which demonstrates a need for businesses to keep up with effective sustainability reporting.

Sustainability reports typically include information on a company's environmental impact, social impact, governance practices, and sustainability initiatives. The reports often contain data and metrics, such as carbon emissions, water usage, waste reduction, employee diversity, and community engagement. For example, sustainability metrics like the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) score assesses a company's environmental impact.

Many organizations use established frameworks, such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) or the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), to guide their sustainability reporting. These frameworks provide guidelines and standards for reporting on specific sustainability issues, which can help companies structure their reporting and provide consistency in reporting across industries.

Such reporting is important for several reasons: 

1. Accountability: Sustainability reporting helps hold companies accountable for their social, environmental, and economic impact. By publicly disclosing their sustainability performance, companies can be held accountable by stakeholders such as investors, customers, employees, and regulators.
2. Transparency: Sustainability reporting provides transparency about a company's sustainability practices, allowing stakeholders to make informed decisions about whether to support the company or not.
3. Risk management: Sustainability reporting can help companies identify and manage sustainability-related risks such as climate change, resource scarcity, and social issues. By identifying and addressing these risks, companies can become more resilient and better prepared for future challenges.
4. Reputation: Sustainability reporting can enhance a company's reputation by demonstrating its commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. This can help attract and retain customers, employees, and investors who value sustainability.
5. Innovation: Sustainability reporting can encourage companies to innovate and develop new products and services that are more sustainable and environmentally friendly. This can lead to new business opportunities and a competitive advantage.

Overall, sustainability reporting is important because it allows companies to communicate their sustainability performance to stakeholders, enhance their reputation, manage risks, and drive innovation. This can help companies create long-term value and contribute to a more sustainable future.

To learn more about Sustainability Reporting, join our 2 Day IBF Accredited Sustainability Reporting Professional Certification and enjoy up to 70% Funding!

This 2 day course will ensure you gain valuable insights on how gain focus on sustainability and systematic approach to sustainability reporting.

Here are the key benefits and step-by-step guide to producing a quality ESG Performance & Sustainability Report:

• Manage social and environmental impacts
• Serve as a differentiator from competitors and foster investor confidence, stakeholder trust and employee loyalty
• Strengthen internal data management
• Streamline processes, reduce costs, and improve efficiency
• Develop strategies to avoid or mitigate social and environmental risks that might impact financial performance
• Deliver better business, social, environmental, and financial value towards creating a virtuous circle
• Benchmark sustainability performance against self and others

You will also be fully equipped with the skillset on how to prepare and report sustainability impactfully & in accordance with international standards to sustainably and impactfully win hearts, minds and more!

All organizations including MNCs, NGOS, Government Agencies and Listed Companies should consider preparing a sustainability report. Reporting promotes the refining of business processes, improve green financing and enhance communication to external and internal stakeholders.

What is the IBF funding?

There are two main schemes provided under the IBF funding – IBF Standards Training Scheme (IBF-STS) and IBF Financial Training Scheme (FTS). Under these schemes, eligible individuals may receive up to 70% funding support off course fees on IBF funded courses in Singapore.

Upon completion of the course, learners will be able to:

• Learn how to prepare and report sustainability impactfully & in accordance with International Standards.
• Understand the role of sustainability and how reporting helps in the overall management of sustainability in the financial sector and economy.
• Understand the different sustainability reporting frameworks and standards.
• Understanding the key steps in preparing a sustainability report, explain the concepts, features, principles and structure of the GRI Standards.
• Identify and define the ESG risks and opportunities most key to the financial sector, and in which to disclose in the annual report.
• Support in the preparation of sustainability reports using GRI framework.
• Gain an understanding of improved and increased reporting of climate-related financial information with Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) aspects

The course is ideal for senior executives and professionals who are involved preparing, and supporting the preparation of, sustainability reports including:

• A current or aspiring C-suite executive or business leader needing to drive strategic, sustainable change in your corporation
• Sustainable Finance professionals such as Sustainability Reporting and Investor Relations
• Financial sector professionals in job roles within Operations, Risk Compliance and Legal
• Aspiring sustainability talents in strategic roles keen to take on new roles as ambassadors for sustainability management and rally colleagues, and
• Anyone who wishes to gain understanding of elements of a good sustainability report and to coordinate the sustainability reporting process.

This course is also for:

• All organizations including MNCs, NGOS, Government Agencies and Listed Companies should consider preparing a sustainability report. 

Reporting promotes the refining of business processes, improve green financing and enhance communication to external and internal stakeholders.

• It is highly relevant for companies that are considering reporting, within the Annual Report, or as a separate standalone Sustainability Report. 

This 2-day course is also highly relevant to companies that are considering reporting, within the Annual Report, or as a separate standalone Sustainability Report. During the course we share case study examples, both local and global, and provide guidance on how to implement the guidelines in practice. Our training is based on our depth of hands-on expertise in producing award-winning sustainability reports.

There are no *pre-requisites for professionals who would like to pursue this course.

"Session is interactive and I gain a better understanding and knowledge on GRI reporting." - Chew Lay See, Manager (Finance & Admin)

"Interactive session even via zoom, I am reskilling to be a sustainability lead and I found the portion on GRI reporting especially useful." - Ivy Ng, Director

"Trainer was able to able to share the life experience and example for cases and I am glad to be able to explore and review the GRI standards." - Yen Sng, Mgmt Systems Consultant

"Dr Asif demonstrate great knowledge in ESG and had shared some valuable knowledge and experiences, I found the sharing from the Dr Asif work in ESG most useful!" - Chong Puay

"Trainer, Dr Asif is very experienced and knowledgeable, the group sharing on the different sustainability reports helped me understand reports from other industries as well! " - Crystal Ouyang, Corporate Affairs Manager

"Trainer engaged us in discussions which exposed me to various backgrounds, this is very useful in understanding different industries!" - Luh Sing

Dr Shana Yong

Dr Shana Yong is an accomplished sustainability expert from Malaysia, leads TrinityECO Pte. Ltd. as startup in Singapore, a consulting firm specializing in sustainability solutions. With a Ph.D. in Business and an MBA in Marketing, she excels in sustainability consulting, material reporting, carbon accounting, and sustainability training. TrinityECO collaborates with organizations like GRI, TCFD, TNFD, PCAF, ISSB, and IFSB to build sustainable value chains and reduce carbon footprints. Dr. Shana's role as a Chartered Financial Planner and Independent Financial Advisor enables her to provide diverse financial wealth services worldwide. Her expertise from corporate MNC and startup backgrounds contributes to a more sustainable future for organizations and the environment through sales and business development roles, harnessing green ESG financing and Greentech opportunities.