Sustainability Reporting with the GRI Standards

ENROLLMENT OPTIONS | COURSE CONTENT & DETAILS | RECOMMENDED FOR | TUITION

Are you creating your first sustainability report and don’t know where to begin? Are you considering taking your corporate citizenship report to the next level? The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is the most commonly used reporting framework, and is used not only to report progress on ESG investments, but also to improve internal management and governance practices around sustainability. Take this course to learn:

The fundamentals of the five-part GRI reporting process: prepare, connect, define, monitor, and report.
How to identify the activities and decisions to be made during the reporting process to help your company focus on relevant issues.
What nonfinancial materiality is and why it matters for reporting.
The difference between an aspect and an indicator and how best to focus your report to meet the needs of your audiences.
How to use GRI principles to create a strategic, focused, credible, and user-friendly report.

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Enrollment Options

Take This Course Online, Starting Today (Or Whenever You're Ready)!

This course is available in a fully-online, self-paced format. You can complete it at your desk, according to your schedule. Continue reading below for course content details, then click on the button that says "Enroll Now."

Course Content: Preview the Specific Units or Modules Included in This Course

COURSE STRUCTURE

Start and finish on your schedule: Courses take 15-17 hours, including video content and exercises.

Module 1: Introduction and Background

Overview of sustainable development, the value of sustainability reporting, and GRI
Activity: Reflect on your learning on sustainable development

Module 2: Overview of the GRI Standards

Describe the GRI Standards, including useful terminology and how the Standards are structured
Activity: Answer questions about a specific GRI Standards document

Module 3: GRI Standards

A deep dive into the Universal Standards and the Topic-Specific Standards, including comparing and contrasting the newest updates to GRI
Activity: Review your learning on the Universal and Topic-Specific Standards

Module 4: Applying the Reporting Principles

Identify the required reporting principles in GRI 1: Foundation and how to apply them in your GRI report
Activity: Check your knowledge of the reporting principles and examine how a company uses the reporting principles

Module 5: Reporting General Disclosures

Learn about GRI 2: General Disclosures, including relevant updates
Activity: Demonstrate your knowledge of the General Disclosures and analyze how a company responds to the General Disclosures

Module 6: Identifying Material Topics

Define materiality in the GRI Standards and how to identify material topics for your organization
Activity: Discuss material topics at your company and check your understanding of key terms and ideas from this module

Module 7: Reporting on Material Topics

Deep dive into reporting on material topics in GRI 3 using a case study
Activity: Assess your learning and discuss your material issues reporting

Module 8: Reporting in Accordance

Explain how to report in accordance with the updated GRI Standards, including the major changes with the updated Standards
Activity: Check your understanding of reporting in accordance and analyze a report for omissions

Module 9: Presenting and Compiling Information

Learn how to collect data, notify GRI, and disseminate your corporate citizenship report
Activity: Discuss how to present and compile reporting information and demonstrate your knowledge of key ideas covered in this module

Module 10: GRI Sector Program

Describe the developing GRI sector program
Activity: Read the sector standards

Module 11: Linkages with other Reporting Frameworks

Recognize connections between GRI and other sustainability reporting standards and frameworks
Activity: Review the linking documents and tools

Module 12: Final Assignment and Additional Resources

Describe reporting resources provided by GRI to assist you in the reporting process
Activity: Evaluate two GRI Standards reports

This course is recommended for:

Professionals involved with any facet of the reporting process; individuals who provide quantitative and/or qualitative data, engage with stakeholders, or communicate the company’s economic, social, or environmental impacts; and professionals interested in learning to evaluate reports of their supply chain partners or customers to maximize alignment of disclosures.

Suggested prior knowledge and skills:

Possesses a familiarity with employer’s business and citizenship strategy, and an understanding of the company’s existing reporting processes and procedures.

Professional credentials earned:

Participants will earn 5 certificate units toward either a Certificate in Corporate Citizenship Practice or a Certificate in Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability Reporting. This is an elective course for a Certificate in Corporate Citizenship Practice and a required course for a Certificate in Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability Reporting.

Tuition

» Member: $1,350.00

» Non-Member: $1,550.00

Please note that rates for this course are slighter lower than those of a typical course. Additional discounts may be available when you enroll in multiple courses at once, either idependently or as part of a Summit (in-person learning experience) registration. See the chart below. If you are considering take multiple courses, connect with our team to better understand your options.