Learning objectives:

• Identify ESG factors that impact sustainable business decisions ​
• Recognize the accounting profession’s call to action to lead the global transition to a more sustainable future ​
• Predict upcoming regulatory/policy developments related to ESG reporting in the U.S. ​
• Recognize the global landscape for companies reporting and obtaining assurance over their ESG disclosures ​
• Identify key developments within the global sustainability reporting standards space

The effect of ESG is being felt across all sectors, and the demand for reporting standards continues to get louder. While we wait for those standards to be set, a number of questions need to be answered. Who will set the rules? Where will the information need to appear? Will audit or assurance be required? Join BKD trusted advisors Dirk Cockrum, Brian Matlock, and Coleman Rowland as they try to navigate these questions and provide a phased approach to building your ESG program.

ESG measures and assessments are becoming pervasive throughout corporations and financial institutions. In order to make these measures useful, it is important to understand what exactly they are measuring. We will explain what goes into creating an ESG score and outline key use cases such as risk assessment, on-boarding and Know Your Supplier/Customer (KYS/KYC). In addition, since ESG scores are only available for the largest firms, we will also show our methodology for estimating ESG measures for small and medium sized enterprises.

Objectives:
1. What are ESG scores measuring and how do they relate to climate risk?
2. The implications and uses of ESG measures across an organization