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The Science of Climate Change

Climate change is no longer a distant threat or just a possibility, it is now a reality for all of us. In this pathway, Kevin Trenberth, a renowned climatologist, delves into the science behind climate change. He first introduces the climate system, its main components and forces.

Tackling the Plastic Crisis

Plastic pollution is by far the biggest threat to our oceans and this remains an incredibly tough problem to solve. Plastic credits could potentially serve as one of the much needed solutions for this crisis.

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The Scale of the Net Zero Challenge

The price of meeting net zero is estimated to be between $100-150 trillion over the next 30 years. Regardless of this cost, we need to reach net zero before climate change does irreversible damage to the environment and the economy.

ESG, Sustainability and Impact Jargon Buster

ESG, sustainability, impact… they all just mean green, right? Not quite. Despite being used often interchangeably, there are distinct differences between these terms.

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Featured Pathways

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The Science of Climate Change

Climate change is no longer a distant threat or just a possibility, it is now a reality for all of us. In this pathway, Kevin Trenberth, a renowned climatologist, delves into the science behind climate change. He first introduces the climate system, its main components and forces.

Tackling the Plastic Crisis

Plastic pollution is by far the biggest threat to our oceans and this remains an incredibly tough problem to solve. Plastic credits could potentially serve as one of the much needed solutions for this crisis.

More pathways

Book a demo

Pricing

Ready to get started?

Plans & Membership

Our Platform

Expert led content

+1,000 expert presented, on-demand video modules

Learning analytics

Keep track of learning progress with our comprehensive data

Interactive learning

Engage with our video hotspots and knowledge check-ins

Testing & certification

Gain CPD / CPE credits and professional certification

Managed learning

Build, scale and manage your organisation’s learning

Integrations

Connect Sustainability Unlocked to your current platform

Featured Content

More featured content

The Scale of the Net Zero Challenge

The price of meeting net zero is estimated to be between $100-150 trillion over the next 30 years. Regardless of this cost, we need to reach net zero before climate change does irreversible damage to the environment and the economy.

ESG, Sustainability and Impact Jargon Buster

ESG, sustainability, impact… they all just mean green, right? Not quite. Despite being used often interchangeably, there are distinct differences between these terms.

More featured content

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Pricing

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Book a demo

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ESG, Sustainability and Impact Jargon Buster

ESG, Sustainability and Impact Jargon Buster

Hannah Duncan

Sustainability marketing & Investor relations

ESG, sustainability, impact… they all just mean green, right? Not quite. Despite being used often interchangeably, there are distinct differences between these terms. In this video, Hannah explores what each term means, how they can overlap and why some terms are more green than others.

ESG, sustainability, impact… they all just mean green, right? Not quite. Despite being used often interchangeably, there are distinct differences between these terms. In this video, Hannah explores what each term means, how they can overlap and why some terms are more green than others.

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ESG, Sustainability and Impact Jargon Buster

9 mins 21 secs

Overview

Green jargon is everywhere and it’s important to know what they actually mean. Hannah breaks down ESG, sustainability and impact in depth and gives examples to illustrate each.

Key learning objectives:

  • Identify what the environmental, social and governance parts of ESG mean

  • Understand what impact and sustainability mean

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Summary

What does the ‘E’ in ESG stand for?

The ‘E’ stands for Environmental and would include actions such as: building renewable energy plants, cutting down on carbon emissions, waste management, recycling, reducing our impact on the physical environment or cleaning up pollution. 

In other words, it’s anything which meaningfully improves the environment without causing any harm.

What does the ‘S’ in ESG stand for?

The ‘S’ stands for Social and aims to improve things for society.  This would include actions such as: standing up for human rights, improving the local quality of life, fighting for gender equality, financial inclusion and access to education or preserving local communities and cultures. It needs to be something which meaningfully improves an area of society, without causing harm to another.

What does the ‘G’ in ESG stand for?

The ‘G’ stands for Governance and is typically the most widely used. This would include actions such as: not being corrupt, not having child labour, not exploiting workers, not bribing politicians, encouraging diversity at senior levels, embracing a circular business model and giving your employees company shares and benefits.

Governance is controversial, as it seems like a company can be classed as ESG for behaving in a way that they should be doing anyway. For example, by not breaking the law, or not breaking the law too much. 

Why is ESG considered controversial?

Most people think that a company needs to have all three (the E, the S and G) to qualify as an ESG company. In fact, you just need one letter. There are also ESG rating scales which you can refer to, to see how and why a company has been classed as ESG. 

What does sustainability mean?

Sustainability refers to activities which contribute in some way to a sustainable economy or ‘doesn’t run out’. Sustainability in finance is about meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. 

This would include actions such as: circular business models, long-lasting environmental change, zero waste and any financial activity which can continue to sustain itself forever without running out or causing something else to run out. 

Sustainability is regarded as greener than ESG but there is still substantial greenwashing.

What does impact mean?

Impact refers to a company that actively and purposefully improves the environment or society in a meaningful and undeniable way. Usually an impact company will have this mission at their very heart as the whole purpose of the organisation. 

To qualify as impact in finance the company should set out clear, measurable and tangible goals which benefit the planet. The senior leaders must measure and report back to their progress, often with an objective third-party in charge of auditing. 

Impact goes well beyond sustainability and ESG.

 

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Hannah Duncan

Hannah Duncan

Hannah is a passionate and experienced copywriter, with a flair for all things finance. Hannah worked as the Senior Content Manager at Invest Click & Invest, before becoming a contributing writer for Hargreaves Landsdown and Fintech Finance where she wrote blogs, white papers and web copy for businesses - as well as articles for magazines and newspapers. Hannah now is the content writer & founder of Hannah Duncan Investment Content.

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