ESG, Sustainability and Non-Financial Reporting

At the end of July 2023, the European Commission adopted the final version of the 1st set of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) that further specify the requirements set by the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD, approved in January 2023). The reporting obligations apply to large undertakings and groups who need to include ESG information to their annual management reports.

During this course, you will orient yourself in the complex structure of the ESRS, learn what to look for and where, and gain confidence in navigating and working with the standards. You will familiarise yourself with the reporting principles that need to be followed to ensure quality and stand up to mandatory assurance.

You will learn about the structure, topics and disclosure requirements for the three pillars – E, S and G. You will be able to distinguish the mandatory and voluntary disclosures, as well as those that may be delayed.

Topics covered:

• Cross-cutting standards ESRS 1 and ESRS 2:
  • General requirements and disclosures mandatory for all undertakings subject to CSRD.
  • Strategy, impacts, risks and opportunities – their management and measurement.
  • Double materiality principle. Sustainability due diligence and value chain reporting.
  • Time horizons. Structure and presentation of the report.
• Environment: E1 Climate change, E2 Pollution, E3 Water and marine resources, E4 Biodiversity and ecosystems, E5 Resource use and circular economy.
• Social: S1 Own workforce, S2 Workers in the value chain, S3 Affected communities, S4 Consumers and end-users.
• Governance: G1 Business conduct.

The course is suitable for people who will coordinate or participate in preparation of the mandatory ESG reporting under the requirements of EU regulations – CSRD and ESRS. (EU Taxonomy is covered in another course).

Course details:

Time: 2 days
Tutor: Radka Nedvědová

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The Taxonomy is a relatively new EU regulation aimed at directing private finance towards sustainable activities. It brings a common classification and definition system of economic activities that are considered sustainable from the point of view of the EU with regard to the set objectives of the EU. Last but not least, it also brings disclosure obligations for companies and groups operating in the EU.

The implementation of taxonomic reporting is a complex discipline that requires a perfect knowledge of regulations and related European legislation.

Topics covered:

• Identification of eligible activities,
• Analysis of technical screening criteria,
• Evaluation of compliance with minimum safeguards in the field of human rights,
• Method of creation and calculation of mandatory KPIs for non-financial institutions, 
• Form of Taxonomy report.

Course details:

Time: 1 day
Tutor: Lenka Daniševská / Matěj Schánilec

We tailored this course to the needs of participants who already have experience with ESG reporting and do not need to start from the basics.

You will appreciate this training if you already report on sustainability on a voluntary or mandatory basis, based on Global Reporting Initiative (GRI Standards) or another methodology. Although this is a very good ground for fulfilling the future obligations imposed on large EU companies and groups by the CSRD directive, there are some significant differences that will require a robust preparation.

We will take you through the major differences between voluntary (e.g. GRI-based) and mandatory CSRD reporting and explain their practical implications for the report content, process and sustainability governance.

We will focus on the following topics (and more):

• Double materiality assessment – extended by financial perspective of ESG matters,
• Inter-operability, similarities and differences between GRI and ESRS requirements and indicators,
• New mandatory disclosures in ESRS (differences and additions),
• Inclusion of entity-specific (industry) disclosures in the absence of ESRS sector standards,
• Mandatory EU Taxonomy disclosures (new to majority of reporters),
• Requirements for structure and form of the report, integration to annual report,
• Rules for claiming an exemption due to inclusion in consolidated report prepared by parent company,
• Mandatory external assurance.

Course details: 

Time: 3,5 – 4 hours
Tutor: Radka Nedvědová

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ESG agenda is developing dynamically and expectations for companies' activities and products are growing. ESG reporting is a means of informing the stakeholders (e.g. business partners – customers and suppliers, investors, employees, regulators, public) about responsible approach to environment, society and governance.

EU CSRD Directive, ESRS Standards and EU Taxonomy pose obligations on large companies to disclose information about sustainability (ESG). There are multiple other evolving regulations and trends to be aware of in the ESG landscape.
Overview for whom the ESG reporting becomes mandatory

The training programme is composed of four practical modules and it is suitable for those who need to understand or cooperate on ESG strategy and reporting in any role (legal & compliance, finance, HR, investor relations, procurement, logistics, environment, sales, marketing etc.). It will be appreciated by beginners as well as experienced ESG coordinators.

Topics covered:

• ESG at a glance: What does ESG mean, why it is important and what are the benefits. Practical illustrations from various industries. Orientation in ESG reports – what to look for and how to read in them.
• ESG reporting – regulations and voluntary frameworks: Who has the ESG reporting obligations and from when. Overview of mandatory and voluntary disclosure requirements (CSRD, EFRAG – ESRS, ISSB – IFRS SRS, GRI, SASB, TCFD).
• ESG report preparation – Content: Selecting the ESG reporting topics (mapping of relevance, prioritisation  double materiality assessment). Scope of the report (who is covered  entities, group level, value chain). Reporting principles to ensure quality. Stakeholders.
• ESG report preparation – Process: Practical guide – phases and steps in ESG report preparation. Reporting team composition. Anticipating and preventing typical problems.

Course details: 

Time: 4 x 3 hours
Tutor: Radka Nedvědová

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Who is the course suitable for:

ESG coordinators who are interested in obtaining deeper understanding of standards in the environmental pillar are recommended to take part in this course after participating in the course Mandatory ESG reporting – EU CSRD & ESRS Standards. Those who participate in measurement and collection of reported environmental information may take this course as a stand-alone option.

Recommended combination of courses:

We recommend combining this course with the training on Carbon footprint measurement and disclosure and ESRS Standards - governance pillar, sustainable due diligence and value chain.

Course description:

We are going to have a deeper look into environmental standards: E1 – Climate change (from the disclosure point of view; problematics of the carbon footprint calculation itself is covered by a single special course), E2 – Pollution, E3 – Water and marine resources, E4 – Biodiversity and ecosystems and E5 – Resource use and circular economy.

You will obtain an overview of the common structure of “E” standards, we will introduce key concepts and definitions and discuss the interaction of cross-cutting standards with “E” standards. You will learn about individual disclosure requirements and whether they result from double materiality assessment or whether they are subject to mandatory disclosure regardless of the result of such an assessment. Main provisions of the standards will be, where possible, illustrated practically.

Topics covered:

• Structure of topical “E” standards, important concepts and definitions,
• Interaction of “E” standards with cross - cutting standards ESRS 1 a ESRS 2,
• Mandatory disclosures and disclosures based on double materiality assessment,
• Disclosure requirements:
  • Policies,
  • Activities,
  • Targets,
  • Metrics.

Course details: 

Time: 1 day
Tutor: Jana Sequensová

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Who is the course suitable for:

The course is suitable for ESG coordinators who are interested in obtaining a deeper understanding of standards in the social pillar. The course will be useful also to those, who participate in the measurement and collection of reported social information.

Recommended combination of courses:

ESG coordinators are recommended to take part in this course after participating in the course Mandatory ESG reporting – EU CSRD & ESRS Standards. Those who participate in measurement and collection of reported social information may take this course as a stand-alone option.

Course description:

We are going to have a deeper look into social standards: S1 – Own Workforce, S2 – Workers in the value chain, S3 – Affected communities, S4 – Consumers and end-users. You will obtain an overview of the common structure of “S” standards, we will introduce key concepts and definitions and discuss the interaction of cross-cutting standards with “S” standards. You will learn about individual disclosure requirements and whether they result from double materiality assessment or whether they are subject to mandatory disclosure regardless of the result of such an assessment. Main provisions of the standards will be, where possible, illustrated practically.

Topics covered:

• Structure of topical “S” standards, important concepts and definitions,
• Interaction of “S” standards with cross - cutting standards ESRS 1 a ESRS 2,
• Mandatory disclosures and disclosures based on double materiality assessment,
• Disclosure requirements:
  • Policies,
  • Activities,
  • Targets,
  • Metrics.

Course details: 

Time: 1 day
Tutor: Radka Nedvědová

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Who is the course suitable for:

Those who participate in collection of reported governance information may take this course as a stand alone option.

Recommended combination of courses:

ESG coordinators are recommended to take part in this course after participating in the course Mandatory ESG reporting – EU CSRD & ESRS Standards.

Course description:

We are going to have a deeper look at two important areas of ESRS Standards. Firstly, we are going to explore the only topical standard from the governance pillar, standard G1 Business conduct. You will obtain an overview of the structure of the standard and learn about its interaction with cross-cutting standards ESRS 1 and 2. You will broaden your knowledge of the  individual disclosure requirements and whether they result from double materiality assessment or whether they are subject to mandatory disclosure regardless of the result of such an assessment. Main provisions of the standards will be, where possible, illustrated practically.

Second part of the course will be concentrated on disclosure of information in the value chain. Value chain is a relatively new, complex and cross-cutting topic in the context of corporate reporting and ESRS. Its prominence is emphasized by the existence of EFRAG’s Value chain implementation guidance and by the newly approved Corporate sustainability due diligence directive - CSDDD. The course will introduce main provisions of this directive, principles featuring in the implementation guidance and their link to mandatory provisions of individual ESRS standards.

Topics covered:

• Structure of G1 standard, important concepts and definitions,
• Interaction of  standard G1 with cross - cutting standards ESRS 1 and 2,
• Mandatory disclosures and disclosures based on double materiality assessment,
• Disclosure requirements: EFRAG’s Implementation guidance IG 2 Value chain and its link to cross-cutting and topical ESRS standards ,
• Definition of value chain, upstream and downstream subjects, relationships and dependencies,
• Incorporation of value chain into materiality assessment,
• Specifics of value chain in “E” and “S” pillars,
• Transitional provisions - phasing of disclosures about value chain,
• Due diligence based on OECD and UN principles - recommended steps and practical examples,
• Directive CSDDD:
  • Applicability: who and when,
  • Obligations resulting from CSDDD,
  • Relationship with sustainability reporting.

Course details: 

Time: 1 day
Tutor: Radka Nedvědová

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While the first wave of companies have already completed the first reporting period and published their sustainability reports for 2024 in accordance with the requirements of the CSRD Directive, EU Taxonomy and ESRS standards, the regulatory rules for the second wave are currently undergoing revision. 

This course responds to the proposed changes and reflects the situation of companies that need to orient themselves and decide how to approach ESG reporting regarding the expected amendments of: 

• The scope of entities for which reporting under the CSRD will be mandatory,
• The time frame of the obligations,
• Standards that will govern the preparation of the sustainability reports.

Although the future form of the regulation will develop in the next few months and the outcome cannot be predicted with certainty, it is appropriate to consider now what options are available to companies. The course will present facts and assumptions that will facilitate decision-making and planning of preparation, and at the same time explain the basics of working with the reporting standards. 

This course is suitable for:

• Company representatives who will be deciding on the approach to ESG reporting depending on the current and future legal regulations,
• Participants who will coordinate or cooperate in the preparation of mandatory (or voluntary) ESG reporting to meet the requirements of ESG regulations – CSRD and ESRS,
• Auditors who will provide assurance on their clients' sustainability reports and need to navigate in the changing regulations.

Course description:

We have adapted the course content to the needs of the so-called second wave of companies, for which the reporting obligation under the CSRD directive was supposed to apply for the first time for 2025. While for some, the obligation will be delayed, others may prepare ESG reporting voluntarily based on simplified standards if they are no longer legally required report. 

To help you navigate the changing landscape, we will summarize the current status and expected changes for you, and you will learn the basics of reporting according to ESRS standards for large as well as for small and medium enterprises. 

Both sets of standards may still undergo changes. However, for timely decision-making, it is crucial to understand what they entail, how to understand their requirements and how they can meet your information needs, as well as those of your business and financial partners. There is no need to postpone this training for later – on the contrary, it will give you insights that will make it easier for you to appropriately direct your next steps. 

Topics covered:

• CSRD Directive and Omnibus proposal: 
  • Comparison between the current regulation and the proposed changes to reporting obligations,
  • Main changes presented in the Omnibus proposal (change in criteria for entities in scope, change in timing, types of standards),
  • Sources of information for monitoring further development of the proposed changes,
  • Practical implications for the reporting preparation process,
  • Examples of published reports for 2024.

• ESRS standards (1st set) – first wave companies and large companies according to the new criteria:
  • Orientation in the structure, tips for understanding and working effectively with the standards,
  • Standard ESRS 1 – reporting principles, basic concepts, structure of the reports (double materiality, value chain, stakeholders, due diligence), 
  • Standard ESRS  2 – areas of mandatory disclosures (governance, strategy and business model, stakeholders, management of sustainability matters), 
  • Topical standards – what matters they address, what information to use and how to write about them (analysis, strategies, policies, actions, targets, metrics)
    • Environmental standards ESRS E1 – E5,
    • Social standards ESRS S1 – S4,
    • Governance standard ESRS G1.

• VSME – voluntary standard for small and medium-sized enterprises (some enterprises of the original second wave):
  • Main differences compared to the 1st set of standards for large enterprises,
  • Voluntary use, expectations of financial institutions and large customers,
  • Orientation in the structure, principles of application (basic & comprehensive module),
  • Overview and explanation of requirements.

Course details: 

Time: 2 days
Tutor: Radka Nedvědová