An environmental, social and governance (ESG) report is a report published by a company or an organization about its ESG impacts. In the past, we focused on financial statements and called financial accounting the language of business. Now, the ESG report becomes another important statement for a company or an organization to provide stakeholders with information on their ESG impacts.

Since 2016, companies listed in Hong Kong are required to comply with the ESG Reporting Guide issued by the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX). According to the 2023 World Economic Forum Job Report, sustainability specialist also becomes one of the top 3 rapidly growing jobs. For example, the "Big Four" accounting firms - Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG – already set up new teams working on ESG auditing and consulting.

Given the increasing importance of ESG reporting and disclosure, this course aims to:

1. Provide an overview of material ESG issues and the associated impacts on firm value.
2. Equip students with the knowledge of HKEX's ESG Reporting Guide and internationally recognized ESG reporting standards and practices.

Continuous Assessment: 50%

Examination: 50%

Examination Duration: 3 hours

Students are required to pass both coursework and examination components to guarantee to pass the course. Failing either component may lead to failure in the course. The passing mark is generally 50.