Introductory description

This module familiarises students with the practice of sustainability reporting and the use of sustainability reports by a range of stakeholders including investors.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

The global variety of sustainability reporting frameworks

Integrated Reporting

Investor-focussed Sustainability Reporting (IFRS Sustainability Standards)

Deep dive into specific topics e.g. Climate-related financial disclosure, Nature-related financial disclosure

Assessing the quality of sustainability reports

Sustainability related impacts on financial statements

Ethics, credibility and assurance

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of current sustainability reporting frameworks and differences between these frameworks.
• Develop personal viewpoints and articulate opinions on current issues in sustainability reporting.
• Recognise ethical dilemmas facing preparers of sustainability reports and recommend appropriate responses.
• Prepare and present clear, concise and effective communications in respect of sustainability reporting issues for a range of both internal and external stakeholders of an organisation.

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Research element

Students will be encouraged to investigate company cases in exploring the background and context of sustainability reporting activities and their appropriateness.

Interdisciplinary

Sustainability reporting issues cross disciplinary boundaries and require an engagement with different types of expertise from both the social and the natural sciences, for example in relation to climate change, biodiversity, or human rights disclosure.

International

Sustainability reporting issues tend to be global issues, most evidently in the area of greenhous gas emissions reporting in relation to international reporting frameworks and climate change policies. Many sustainability reporting issues refer to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and international agreements. IFRS Sustainability Reporting Standards are intended for global use and widely adopted. Reporting entities tend to have supply chains that span the globe and often long distances between countries and jurisdictions whilst being associated with a variety of local impacts across international communities.

Subject specific skills

Interpret and apply key sustainability reporting frameworks, including IFRS S1 and S2.
Analyse sustainability-related risks and opportunities and assess how these should be reflected in narrative disclosures and financial statements.
Evaluate and apply the concept of materiality, including financial materiality and double materiality.
Critically assess the quality of sustainability disclosures, identifying potential bias, greenwashing, and gaps in transparency.

Transferable skills

Develop problem framing and problem solving skills in exploring case studies.
Demonstrate the use of professional scepticism and judgement in sustainability reporting.