Corporate Sustainability and ESG Law module (LW52146)

Corporate sustainability means conducting business with environmental, societal, and economic impacts in mind.

The negative impact of economic activity on both the environment and people is causing increasing concern. Due to this, regulators, companies, and investors seek to address corporate sustainability. This is done through new laws and policies.

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) is a framework to assess and measure a company's impact and sustainability.

This module considers legal, theoretical, and practical issues associated with new laws and other standards addressing sustainability. It also looks at ESG for businesses and investment activities.

What you will learn

In this module, you will learn about:

• concepts in corporate sustainability and ESG investment law and policy
• main legal and policy frameworks on corporate sustainability and ESG investments at international, European regional, and national levels
• interdependencies between corporate sustainability, non-financial reporting, and ESG regulation
• environmental standards in investment law, policy, and practice, including those addressing private sector contributions to climate change
• social issues in investment law, policy, and practice, including human rights
• governance about investment law, policy, and practice, including anti-corruption
• theories, evidence and critiques of the effectiveness of corporate sustainability and ESG approaches

Assignments / assessment

• written assignment
• formative coursework

This module does not have a final exam.

Teaching methods / timetable

• lectures
• student-led seminars
• independent study