Improving Confidence in Sustainability Performance Data

Sustainability has become an important topic for organizations across industries. But reporting sustainability data can be complicated. Since it is usually qualitative in nature and the results of sustainability-related decisions are typically observed in the longer term, sustainability information is difficult to measure. Once we find mechanisms for measuring this type of data, how do we trust it? How does management make critical decisions based on it? How can our investors, analysts, and other external stakeholders have confidence in nonfinancial sustainability data as they do with financial data?

This course will outline how the COSO Internal Control–Integrated Framework can help. The framework, since its inception, was always meant to apply to financial as well as nonfinancial data such as sustainability. You'll be taken through the five components and 17 principles of the framework to demonstrate how building and maintaining effective internal controls can help secure greater confidence in sustainability reporting.

Unit 1: Introduction

Unit 2: The COSO Internal Control Framework

Unit 3: Control Environment

Unit 4: Risk Assessment

Unit 5: Control Activities

Unit 6: Information and Communication

Unit 7: Monitoring Activities

Unit 8: Recommendations