ESG - environmental, social and governance - is more than ticking boxes. It's about making a difference for your business and the world. The next few years are critical and the time for action is now.
With the increased focus on sustainability comes a new opportunity for businesses to stand out from their peers to do good for the environment, meet the increasing stakeholder expectations, and integrate ESG as a cornerstone into their organization.
Α unique course that gives practical qualifications on the subject.
ESG Academy is a comprehensive training program that offers certification in ESG and sustainable development issues and provides participants with in demand ESG skills & knowledge at both a theoretical and practical level.
The ESG Academy Diploma will give you the practical tools and techniques to become a qualified ESG professional.
The program follows a physical teaching model. Lectures are conducted in an interactive context, using contemporary case studies.
The course has a total duration of 36 training hours, within a span of 6 weeks, and offers 3.5 ECTS units.
Upon successful completion of the 36-hour training, participants receive a certification title from the Athens University of Economics and Business.
Successful completion of the program offers the technical knowledge and understanding of :
the sustainable development model and its impact on the environment, economy, business and society.
the 6 sustainable axes as governed by the values of Circularity and Leaving no one behind.
the 3 dimensions of sustainable development (economic, legal, technological).
the 2030 agenda of the United Nations, European Green Deal, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the new framework it sets for the economy.
the up to date tools required for the planning of sustainable development strategy and actions in the context of private and public entities.
the new sustainable management and decision-making models set out to attract funds for the implementation of the European Green Agreement goals and more generally technical tools for the sustainability transition in the sectors of shipping, sustainable and green agriculture, the circular economy, of financial state and private entities, regional municipalities, circular economy, green shipping, blue development, banks, corporate social responsibility, etc.
The Sustainability Policy Framework
This Section introduces the basic concepts of Sustainable development and covers the EU policy framework for the transition to sustainability including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the UN Agenda 2030 and the European Green Deal. It provides an overview of cutting-edge scientific approaches towards developing pathways that enable the transition to climate neutrality and climate resilience, within the Framework of UN Agenda 2030 and the Paris Climate Agreement.
(6 Hours)
ESG (Environmental Social Governance) Academy
This section covers the basic concepts of Corporate Sustainability Reporting and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) metrics. The policy framework and current developments (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) are introduced, together with the corporate Risk and Opportunities related to climate change. Important topics of Sustainable Finance and Green Taxes are also covered, with an emphasis in the state of play for the Greek Economy.
(9 Hours)
Selected Topics in Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Biodiversity
This section provides a collection of selected topics in the field of Climate change, sustainable development and biodiversity. The topics are structured around the Six SDG UN SDSN Transformations namely:
Education, Gender, and Inequality
Health, Wellbeing, and Demography
Energy Decarbonization and Sustainable Industry
Sustainable Food, Land, Water, and Oceans
Sustainable Cities and Communities
Digital Revolution for Sustainable Development
All topics offer a thorough understanding of environmental and sustainability issues supported with the presentations of real-world projects and cutting-edge tools.
(18 Hours)
The course is directed by Professor Phoebe Kountouri and guided by PwC ESG industry experts and faculty from the Athens University of Economics who have many years of experience in supporting business leaders from around the world to bring about change in their organizations.
Phoebe Koundouri - Scientific Director
Akinsete Ebun, Senior Researcher, Head of the Department of Stakeholder Analysis and Decision Support Systems at ICRE8 and SDSN Greece
Adamos Ioannis, Research Associate, University of Thessaly
Giannakopoulos Athanassios, Professor Department of Statistics, Athens University of Economics and Business
Stella Gounari, Director - Accounting Advisory Services, PwC Greece
Ioannidis Yannis, Professor National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, President ACM
Laspidou Chryssi, Professor, University of Thessaly, Vice-President of Research and Technology Water Europe
Landis Conrad Felix Michel, Postdoctoral Researcher Athens University of Economics & Athens Research Center
Lydia Papadaki, PhD candidate Athens University of Economics and Business, Co-Manager EIT Climate-KIC Hub Greece
Papanikolaou Katerina, Senior Manager, HR Consulting Department, PwC Greece
Dimitris Sakipis, Director, ESG, Sustainability and Climate Change Services, PwC Greece
Dimitris Tzavaras, Senior Manager Energy Tax ESG, PwC Greece
Toli Eleni, Project Manager Athena Research Center
- Alexandros Charalambidis, Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Cyprus University of Technology
- Panagiota Koltsida, Research Associate at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens & Athena Research Center
- Stamatia Koutou, Manager, ESG Reporting and Assurance Team, PwC Greece
Learn from experienced leaders and become an ESG expert fully equipped to navigate the impact of ESG.
| Start Date: | The first cycle of the program will start in 8 May 2023 |
| End Date: | 20 June 2023 |
| Format: | Physical presence |
| Duration: | 36 hours |
| Days: | Mondays and Tuesdays, 18.00 - 21.00 |
Our ESG Strategy
PwC's Sustainability practice helps organizations plan, source, deliver, finance and measure the wider impact of products and services. We’re helping future-proof businesses by making them more resilient, agile and sustainable.
We provide guidance on a wide variety of issues, working with clients from the corporate, private equity and public sector. We're specialists in how organizations can spot the risks and harness the opportunities.
Sustainability and climate is increasingly being built into the core of organizations, reflected in purposes and missions, managed across operations and linked to financing and investment decisions.
Organizations who recognize these changes and take action to reorient their strategic directions have the potential not only to protect but to enhance their reputations and positioning for future success.
We help our clients design and implement their ESG, sustainability or Corporate Social Responsibility strategies, integrate them into corporate strategy, measure their impact, align with UN Sustainable Development Goals and meet financing and investment requirements (i.e. EBRD and IFC requirements).
Moreover, we help our clients develop their ESG target operating models and establish an ESG policies and procedures framework.
There is growing consensus that organizations, investors and governments can no long rely solely on traditional financial information for decision making. Organizations are increasingly asked by different stakeholder groups to enhance and improve their ESG reporting and commit to targets that will enable a sustainable future growth.
Our add value services include:
- execution of stakeholders engagement and materiality analysis exercises,
- preparation of impactful reports that adhere all applicable standards (GRI, SASB, UN Global Compact, CDP, Ecovadis), link to UN Sustainable Development Goals and incorporate quantitate and qualitative strategic targets.
- provision of sustainability assurance services, based on international auditing standards.
- assist in compliance with the EU non-Financial Reporting (NFR) Directive and readiness assessments on upcoming regulatory changes related to NFR.
Additionally, through our reporting services, we assist our clients to standardize and further automate their ESG, sustainability or CSR reporting process.
ESG is gaining traction across asset classes and managing ESG issues can create long term value for investors and their portfolio companies.
PwC has the tools, methods and experience to enable investors to effectively drive incremental value from ESG. We apply our strong capability and deep knowledge of ESG to help clients develop an effective approach to the management of ESG factors on existing or target investments.
ESG is gaining traction across asset classes and managing ESG issues can create long term value for investors and their portfolio companies.
PwC has the tools, methods and experience to enable investors to effectively drive incremental value from ESG. We apply our strong capability and deep knowledge of ESG to help clients develop an effective approach to the management of ESG factors on existing or target investments.
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