Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO)

Overview

35% of large firms in the EU has already appointed a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO)!

Chief Sustainability Officers (CSO) are increasingly being appointed in companies to strategically define and embed/implement sustainability in their organization. In Europe, 35% of all corporates has already appointed a CSO. As Chief Sustainability Officer, you are responsible for integrating sustainability into your organization's strategy and operations. For this, you need broad, in-depth and up-to-date knowledge to interweave sustainability in your company's strategy and translate your strategy into working action plans.

An overwhelming number of laws and regulations and an enormous social pressure make integrating sustainability into your overall strategy and business operations both desirable and inevitable. For example, investors will increasingly want to do business with sustainable companies. How do you ensure that - in addition to profit - people and planet are also embedded in your company?

Climate change is recognized as one of the greatest business risks worldwide. What are the effects of circular thinking on the supply chain, the production process, marketing, and your customers? The energy transition is also an important development that your organization can't ignore. Are there opportunities for your company as well?

The launch of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) by the European Commission is of great importance and leads to regulations that align sustainability reporting with financial reporting. Financial and non-financial reports are therefore given equal value. From the financial year 2025, large companies must - among other things - measure and report their climate impact and from 2027, the EU will also make this mandatory for large SMEs. If you fail to do so, you risk that your annual report will not be approved. However, ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) reporting is still in full development. A (future) vision when drawing up and/or checking ESG reports is therefore very important!

Sustainable finance means sustainable investment in or sustainable financing of companies. What does this mean for raising capital? For example, issuing 'green bonds' can be financially (and in terms of reputation) attractive for your organization. 

To adequately embed sustainability risks in your organization's risk management, you must have a system for data collection. After all, consistent and reliable data are crucial, also for reporting purposes. In short, how do you develop data-driven ESG management for your company?

Sustainability is not just about the environment. The S (Social) of ESG, such as social inequality, diversity, safe working conditions, etc., is also an important issue within sustainability. How do you deal with the social responsibility/impact of your company?

Most European economies must be fully circular by 2050 (Green Deal). There still is a lot to do to realize the transformation to a circular economy. Which standards should you take into account on your way to a circular economy and how do you translate these to your stakeholders? Technological innovation (recycling, hydrogen, etc.), but also legislation, cause changes in cost prices and therefore market dynamics. What are the consequences for your current business models?

Developments in the field of sustainability are moving at the speed of light. The changing and future standards and guidelines will always lead to a reconsideration of your strategy. During the course, ample attention is paid to relevant international standards, guidelines, (emerging) legislation, and current trends.

After this course, you will have up-to-date knowledge about how you can turn sustainability challenges into opportunities for your organization and how you can manage the accompanying risks.

As a (future) Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) you are confronted with numerous dilemmas, but also with opportunities. For example, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) provide clear frameworks for transforming into a sustainable organisation. You are also required to include non-financial information in your reporting. During the course, therefore, much attention is paid to sustainability reporting, compliance, and audit with an extensive explanation of, among other things, the EU Taxonomy, SDFR, CSRD, TCFD and the Climate Agreement, the consequences for setting up the chain and setting up the formal structures. For an overview of all topics that are covered, please examine the curriculum.

After this course, you can make informed decisions about how to use sustainability as a building block for your strategy and to translate your strategy into actions.

The Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) course is of strategic and practical importance for all professionals involved in drawing up, implementing, and reporting on the organization's sustainability policy. We are thinking of (future) CSOs, CEOs, CROs, CIOs, CFOs, controllers and other finance professionals and their internal and external advisors, such as internal and external accountants, auditors, risk managers, compliance officers, policy analysts, (company) lawyers, investor relations managers, HR managers, business/product development managers, quality managers, marketing managers, communication managers, PR managers, environmental managers and supply chain managers.

The course is also important for investors and asset managers, such as banks, insurance companies, private equity companies, pension funds, and regulators.