ESG Risk Management

This course guides you through six modules, offering a practical journey into ESG risk management. From defining ESG and integrating it into enterprise frameworks, to identifying controls, stress testing and scenario analysis, each module builds seamlessly on the last, providing actionable insights, real-life scenarios and hands-on tasks – culminating in the creation of an individually tailored ESG strategic plan. This final assessment ensures you’ve mastered the tools and techniques you’ve learned to manage ESG risks and opportunities effectively.

• Module 1: ESG risk articulation and prioritisation
• Module 2: Enterprise risk management frameworks and ESG integration
• Module 3: ESG risk mitigation initiatives
• Module 4: ESG emerging risks and scenario analysis
• Module 5: ESG strategic planning, reporting and disclosures
• Module 6: Conclusion

By the end of the course you will be able to:

• identify and measure environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks
• apply an ESG risk management framework that reflects a risk appetite
• classify ESG risks to be mitigated and outline treatments
• evaluate the benefits of stress testing and scenario analysis to manage ESG risks
• assess a current ESG strategic plan, its reporting and disclosure
• produce a robust ESG strategic plan for management of a key ESG risk in your organisation or sector.

On successful completion of the course, you’ll receive a certificate from the University of Cambridge, along with valuable Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points and a digital badge to display on your LinkedIn profile. These Cambridge credentials not only showcase your knowledge and expertise but also demonstrate your commitment to professional development – helping future-proof your career.

This course is designed for professionals seeking to integrate ESG risk management into their day-to-day jobs and is ideally suited for the following roles:

• Established ESG and sustainability professionals: Ideal for ESG leads, specialists and heads of sustainability eager to refine skills and stay ahead in the evolving field of ESG risk management.
• Professionals expanding into ESG: Perfect for risk managers, procurement and operations professionals, supply chain managers, finance directors, strategists and mid-level managers looking to integrate ESG principles into daily responsibilities.
• Aspiring ESG and risk management specialists: Designed for professionals ready to pivot into ESG and risk-focused roles, providing the tools and insights to confidently step into these dynamic, future-oriented positions.

Our flexible, online courses – delivered via a world-leading learning platform – reflect the University of Cambridge experience and values, with low learner-to-tutor ratios and academically rigorous standards.

Our online learning model is designed to help you advance your skills and specialise in emerging areas that address real-world challenges. We will help you build your network through an engaging and impactful learning journey that encourages collaboration with academics and fellow learners.

Courses are delivered in weekly modules, allowing you to plan your time effectively around existing commitments. There is an optional weekly live session, which is recorded for anyone who can’t attend. The assessment criteria will be presented to you at the start of the course, so you can approach your studies with confidence and motivation, knowing exactly what’s expected of you and how to meet those expectations.

Throughout your online learning experience with Cambridge Advance Online, you’ll have digital access to a dedicated course tutor, an expert in the field, who will help steer your learning and provide you with support and guidance every step of the way.

Level of knowledge

• An undergraduate degree in a relevant field.
• Roughly five years of (business) work experience.
• Understanding of the context of the industry to relate to the course activities.
• A level of spoken and written English sufficient to allow you to participate and succeed in the course (we recommend that you have an English Language level equivalent to an IELTS score of 7, as outlined in section 5 of our Terms of Purchase).

Materials and equipment

• Sufficient internet speed and stability for video streaming (2 Mbps up/down).
• Please see our recommendations on web browsers (opens in a new tab)
• No specialist software or IT equipment needed.

Access to Virtual Learning Environment
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You can ask for support from your employer to fund this learning as part of your professional development.

Our Employer Funding guide has practical tips and templates to help you feel more confident asking for funding.

If your employer is funding your course or programme, we have several payment options available, including bank transfer (BACs), credit or debit card, and PayPal.

You can request a quote or an invoice for your organisation via our online course booking form, which will include a payment date and next steps for completing your payment.