ESG Regulatory Reporting Conference: How to Comply With Regulations and Investor Expectations

CONFERENCE AGENDA

Welcome & Opening Remarks
8:45 – 9:00 AM

Why ESG Matters: The Value Proposition
9:00 – 10:00 AM
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) is evolving at a rapid pace with an emerging need for non-financial reporting disclosures by varied regulations across the world in order to stimulate decisions of investors and stakeholders. ESG has become a prevalent factor in today’s business world, and we are seeing a clear trend towards aligning integrated ESG data into a company’s value propositions. Forward-thinking businesses are identifying these sustainable opportunities that will benefit and support the business by building healthy relations with investors for the long-term.
In this session, participants will:  
• Gain insights to understand the need for integration of ESG
• Gain understanding of types and roles of governance structure in ESG reporting
• Understand the importance of developing ESG strategies and goals that align with mandatory or
  voluntary regulations and/or frameworks adopted
• Understand the relationship between ESG strategy and a business-integrated purpose

Break
10:00 – 10:05 AM

Governance & Regulatory Reporting Frameworks
10:05 – 11:05 AM
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues are prevailing and an increasing focus area for companies. Understanding ESG and climate-related risk has become a priority when planning a business’s long-term strategy. Companies are required to assess the performance of relevant metrics. Regulations, standards, and frameworks are also emerging. Complying with evolving regulations can be a challenge, especially for organizations that are still building their ESG reporting programs.
In this session, participants will get insights on:  
• SEC rules proposed in regards to climate-related risks and ESG areas
• Overview of the basic requirements from global frameworks, standards, and guidelines such as the
  Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Science Based
  Targets initiative (SBTi), Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), Task Force on Climate-
  related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), and GHG Protocols (Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3
  Emissions)
• International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) Standards 1 and 2
• Integration of the 2013 Internal Control Framework by COSO into sustainability monitoring and
  reporting

Break
11:05 – 11:10 AM

The Role of Internal Audit
11:10 AM – 12:00 PM
Providing objective and reliable assurance is a key aspect of ESG reporting, which makes the process of internal auditing even more valuable. ESG related issues are not covered and mapped with typical internal audit plans. This requires businesses to start considering incorporation of ESG risks and their assessment of processes and controls to facilitate risk mitigation and prevention. In this session, we will discuss how internal audit functions are supporting sustainability.
In this session, participants will know how internal audit teams:  
• Understand reporting material ESG metrics for relevancy, accuracy, timeliness, and consistency
• Maintain consistency with applicable standards, frameworks, or guidelines adopted
• Need to build an ESG control environment
• Understand key challenges, best practices, tools, and assessments

Lunch
12:00 – 12:45 PM

Risk Management
12:45 – 1:30 PM
ESG criteria and reporting in terms of regulatory requirements and investors’ expectations can be challenging for firms—especially when it comes to integrating sustainability risk factors into existing risk management frameworks. There are ways to take risk-based approaches to ESG while exploring all possible nature of risks associated with business in compliance with regulatory frameworks.
In this session, participants will gain understanding on:  
• Identification, assessment, and reporting of risks related to sustainability matters
• Key challenges, best practices, tools, and assessments
• ESG risks and compliance with alignment and implementation with COSO ERM framework or other
  applicable regulatory frameworks

Break
1:30 – 1:35 PM

ESG Data Collection, Aggregation & Reporting Considerations
1:35 – 2:20 PM
In order for ESG reporting to be fully effective, businesses need to increase the focus on quality of data collection. But this also requires adapting to the differences in which data collection is handled considering that traditional data collection methods may not apply to the types of data needed for sustained ESG growth. Both existing and new pieces of data and automation must be considered.
In this session, participants will get insights on:  
• Identification of opportunities to transition from conventional methods of data collection to
  automatically collect and transform the data, and then store it in cloud servers
• Establishing a process of collection of ESG data, transformation, and storage in the repository or
  database
• Key challenges, best practices, tools, and assessments related to aggregation and reporting

Break
2:20 – 2:25 PM

Process & Controls Over ESG Reporting
2:25 – 3:40 PM
Due to the increased focus on ESG being used as a means to measure a business's future value and viability, shareholders and potential investors seek information that is reliable and accurate. This means it is more necessary than ever to establish appropriate controls to gather and verify this information.
In this session, participants will understand:  
• The need to establish and implement COSO 2013 Internal Controls Framework over sustainability
  reporting
• How to create an ESG controls gap analysis and action plan
• Evaluating design of controls over ESG reporting

Break
3:40 – 3:45 PM

Third Party Assurance on Greenhouse Gas Emissions & More
3:45 – 4:30 PM
Assurance ranges from management controls through internal audit up to external assurance opinions. The most widely used external assurance standard for non-financial information is ISAE 3000 (UK), ISAE 3410, and AICPA attestation standards for greenhouse gas (GHG) KPIs.
In this session, participants will understand:  
• How GHG is part of a regulatory disclosure regime
• SEC proposal on GHG Scope 1, 2, and 3 emission reporting
• Standards of reporting
• Non-financial reporting auditing standards

Break
4:30 – 4:35 PM

Sustainable Supply Chain
4:35 – 5:20 PM
This session will provide an overview, as well as enable companies to understand and analyze their supply chain risks and how ESG risks impact the supply chain. We will also discuss current trends and better practices related to remediating and monitoring material ESG. 
In this session, participants will learn how to:  
• Create better and stronger business relationships with suppliers
• Identify opportunities to update and improve service agreements
• Ensure suppliers’ compliance measures are meeting the best-industry practices and regulatory
  requirements
• Improve the performance of supply chain
• Find risks in your supply chain affecting revenue and brand reputation

Closing Remarks
5:20 – 5:30 PM

Conference Ends
5:30 PM