Package Description

What You Will Learn

This course module is presented in nine sections, approximately one hour: 

• • 5.1 Introduction - Understandwhy sustainability professionals need to master the art of making a business case for sustainability. 
  • 5.2 The Superset of Sustainability Benefits - Explore a checklist of all the possible benefits and co-benefits associated with projects that improve the well-being of communities, employees, and the environment.
  • 5.3 Business Case for a Sustainable Enterprise - Learn why companies attribute their focus on sustainability to a strong enough business case.
  • 5.4 Business Case For A Sustainability Project - Understand why traditional CFO cost-benefit analysis frameworks may not adequately include sustainability benefits and explore a new Project Appraisal Form that includes weighting for purpose fulfillment, strategic plan, and sustainability impacts.
  • 5.5 Opportunity Benefits - Explore the most sought-after elements in the business case, such as savings on operational and HR expenses, increased revenue, lower cost of capital, higher asset values, and higher market values. 
  • 5.6 Risk-Avoidance Benefits - Learn how to monetize in a business case the benefits of avoiding strategic, operational, compliance, and financial risks.
  • 5.7 Estimating Potential Benefits - Understand how to improve the credibility of estimates used in the cost-benefit analysis, using research and experience.
  • 5.8 Multi-Stakeholder Capitalism - Learn how a multi-stakeholder purpose redesigns a company’s business model to maximize stakeholder wellbeing instead of only stakeholder wealth.
  • 5.9 Conclusion - Understand why many sustainability initiatives fail due to lack of investment or resources, competing priorities, and culture change challenges.

Course participants will take one quiz at the end of this module, approximately 10 questions.

Who is This Course For?

The Sustainability Core Competencies course is designed for individuals who may be new to the sustainability field but who plan to incorporate sustainability concepts directly into their work. It could also be for individuals who want third-party certification of their knowledge of sustainability via the SEA credential or those with expertise in a sector of sustainability that desire a broader industry understanding.

Course Description

This module provides an overview of the business benefits that justify our proposed sustainability initiatives. You will learn how to identify, quantify, monetize, and communicate the business-related benefits of environmentally or socially beneficial projects. 

The content of this video is based on Chapter 5 of the SEA Study Guide and can be used as preparation for the SEA exam. This course is a tool to help you study for the exam, but completion of the Sustainability Core Competencies course does not guarantee passing the SEA exam. [Read disclaimer.] 

Certificate

Following the successful completion of the course, students will receive a Certificate of Completion, indicating knowledge of core sustainability concepts and best practices. 

The completion of the full Sustainability Core Competencies course earns 5 Continuing Education Units (CEU) for SEA and SEP credential holders, and the completion of this module alone earns 0.5 CEU credits.

Disclaimer

Upgrades to the ISSP course technology will occur Summer 2024. Please note this transition will result in the loss of any progress you make in completion of this course. All course users will be provided a minimum of 30-day notice prior to platform transition to complete course. Access will be granted automatically on the upgraded platform for future course use.