Learning Outcomes Assessment Criteria Indicative Content
1.1 Critically evaluate the principles of
- Corporate governance
1. Understand the role environmental governance frameworks.
structures - UNGC, OECD
of corporate 1.2 Analyse the role of board leadership
principles - Stakeholder theory -
governance in and ethical responsibility in driving
Shareholder vs stakeholder
environmental and sustainability agendas. 1.3 Examine
models - Triple bottom line
sustainability stakeholder engagement and its
thinking - Ethical frameworks and
performance influence on environmental decision-
sustainability leadership
making.
2.1 Compare key international - Paris Agreement, Basel
environmental regulations and treaties. Convention, UN SDGs - EU Green
2. Analyse global and
2.2 Evaluate compliance mechanisms and Deal, US EPA, UK Environment Act
regional environmental
enforcement strategies. 2.3 Appraise 2021 - Environmental permitting
regulatory frameworks
environmental performance and EIA systems - ISO 14001,
benchmarking tools. EMAS, SECR
3.1 Compare leading ESG disclosure and - GRI, SASB, TCFD, CDP, IR
sustainability reporting standards. 3.2 Framework - ESG metrics and KPIs
3. Evaluate
Assess the impact of ESG integration on - Green finance and sustainable
sustainability reporting
corporate investment and finance. 3.3 investing - Risk materiality matrix
and ESG frameworks
Analyse transparency, materiality, and - Double materiality, assurance in
risk in ESG reporting. ESG
Learning Outcomes Assessment Criteria Indicative Content
1.1 Critically analyse circular economy - Ellen MacArthur Foundation
1. Understand the models and their implications for model - Cradle-to-cradle design
principles and sustainability. 1.2 Examine the transition - Doughnut economics -
frameworks of circular challenges from linear to circular Systems thinking in CE -
economy economies. 1.3 Evaluate lifecycle thinking in Lifecycle assessment (LCA),
sustainable design. embodied energy
2.1 Assess strategies for sustainable use of - Renewable vs finite resources
2. Analyse sustainable materials, energy, and water. 2.2 Explore - Eco-efficiency, lean production
resource management sustainable procurement and supply chain - Green procurement policies -
strategies management. 2.3 Examine indicators and Water/energy audits - ISO
metrics for sustainable resource use. 50001, ISO 20400
3.1 Appraise industry case studies on - Circular value chains - Product-
3. Evaluate the
circular business models. 3.2 Evaluate the service systems - Industrial
implementation of
enablers and barriers to circular economy symbiosis - Behavioural and
circular economy in
adoption. 3.3 Develop strategic plans for technological enablers - CE
organisations
embedding circularity in operations. innovation and policy incentives
Learning Outcomes Assessment Criteria Indicative Content
1. Understand climate 1.1 Explain climate change science, - IPCC reports, SSP-RCP models -
Learning Outcomes Assessment Criteria Indicative Content
Global carbon budget, climate
scenarios, and key drivers. 1.2 Distinguish
tipping points - Sector-specific
science and associated between physical and transition risks in
risks (agriculture, energy,
environmental risks climate systems. 1.3 Analyse climate change
finance) - Climate justice and
vulnerability and exposure across sectors.
equity issues
2.1 Evaluate mitigation options at - Net-zero strategies - Nature-
organisational and national levels. 2.2 based solutions (NBS) -
2. Examine climate
Analyse climate adaptation planning Resilience planning tools - ISO
mitigation and
frameworks. 2.3 Critically assess the cost- 14090, UNDRR strategies -
adaptation strategies
benefit and feasibility of Carbon pricing, climate-smart
mitigation/adaptation actions. agriculture
3.1 Examine the alignment of climate risks - TCFD, ISSB, ClimateVaR - Risk
3. Evaluate climate
with enterprise risk management systems. registers, scenario planning -
risk integration into
3.2 Assess disclosure practices and their Board accountability and
corporate risk
effectiveness. 3.3 Design frameworks for governance - Climate policy and
management
climate governance and oversight. internal audits
2 ND SAMPLE
Qualification Structure
Unit Ref Unit Title Level GLH TQT Credits
OHS701 Management-Driven, Risk-Based Safety Management Systems 7 50 150 15
ESM702 Environmental Leadership, Governance, and Legal Compliance 7 50 150 15
ESM703 Strategic Environmental and Sustainability Risk Management 7 50 150 15
Corporate Environmental Planning, Performance, and Sustainable
ESM704 7 50 150 15
Development
Unit Descriptions
🟩 OHS701: Management-Driven, Risk-Based Safety Management Systems
(Imported from OHS diploma — no modification required)
Focuses on safety governance, leadership commitment, and the application of risk-based approaches
in high-level safety and environmental strategies.
🟦 ESM702: Environmental Leadership, Governance, and Legal Compliance
Aims:
To develop learners’ ability to lead and govern environmental performance aligned with national and
international environmental legislation, policies, and ethical frameworks.
Key Topics:
Environmental leadership theories and responsibilities
Environmental laws, frameworks (e.g. ISO 14001), and regulatory compliance
ESG governance and ethical management practices
Role of leadership in sustainability transitions
Learning Outcomes:
1. Critically evaluate environmental leadership models and governance frameworks.
2. Analyse the influence of legal and regulatory requirements on environmental policy.
3. Apply compliance techniques to reduce environmental liability and risk.
4. Develop ethically aligned strategies to promote sustainable leadership practices.
🟦 ESM703: Strategic Environmental and Sustainability Risk Management
Aims:
To provide learners with strategic tools to manage complex environmental risks across sectors
through integrated sustainability and risk methodologies.
Key Topics:
Environmental and sustainability risk types (climate, biodiversity, pollution)
Risk assessment techniques and decision-making frameworks
Scenario planning and resilience strategies
ISO 14090 (climate adaptation), ISO 31000 (risk management)
Learning Outcomes:
1. Analyse environmental and sustainability risk categories and drivers.
2. Apply risk management tools to assess and mitigate environmental impacts.
3. Evaluate the effectiveness of environmental risk strategies at the organizational level.
4. Develop a strategic risk response plan integrating sustainability principles.
🟦 ESM704: Corporate Environmental Planning, Performance, and Sustainable Development
Aims:
To equip learners with the competence to develop and evaluate organizational environmental
management systems and strategies supporting sustainable development goals.
Key Topics:
Corporate environmental management systems (EMS)
Environmental performance indicators and life cycle assessment (LCA)
Circular economy and resource efficiency
Linking corporate planning to UN SDGs and net-zero goals
Learning Outcomes:
1. Design and critique environmental planning frameworks aligned with business objectives.
2. Evaluate environmental performance using metrics and KPIs.
3. Propose continuous improvement strategies using circular economy principles.
4. Integrate global sustainability goals into corporate decision-making.
ESM702: Environmental Leadership, Governance, and Legal Compliance
Aim:
Develop advanced skills in leading, governing, and ensuring legal compliance in environmental and
sustainability contexts.
➤ Learning Outcome 1: Understand principles of environmental leadership and governance.
AC Assessment Criteria
1.1 Critically evaluate models and styles of environmental leadership.
1.2 Analyse the role of leadership in driving sustainability transformation.
1.3 Examine the impact of governance structures on environmental performance.
1.4 Assess the relationship between environmental leadership and organisational culture.
1.5 Critique approaches to ethical leadership in environmental governance.
1.6 Examine the role of stakeholders in shaping leadership responsibilities.
1.7 Analyse how leadership can influence corporate environmental behaviours.
➤ Learning Outcome 2: Understand legal and regulatory frameworks affecting environmental
management.
AC Assessment Criteria
2.1 Identify and interpret key international and national environmental regulations.
2.2 Analyse how environmental laws influence organisational decision-making.
2.3 Critically evaluate compliance strategies in different sectors.
AC Assessment Criteria
2.4 Assess the implications of non-compliance with environmental laws.
2.5 Examine ISO 14001 and other EMS frameworks in supporting legal compliance.
2.6 Evaluate the integration of legal compliance into ESG reporting.
2.7 Explore trends in climate legislation and environmental justice.
2.8 Develop an environmental compliance improvement strategy.
➤ Learning Outcome 3: Understand how leadership supports legal and ethical environmental
performance.
AC Assessment Criteria
3.1 Examine how leadership promotes a culture of compliance and sustainability.
3.2 Evaluate ethical dilemmas in environmental decision-making.
3.3 Analyse leadership accountability for environmental outcomes.
3.4 Critically assess the role of transparent governance in performance reporting.
3.5 Develop leadership strategies to improve environmental integrity.
3.6 Evaluate leadership approaches in managing public and regulatory scrutiny.
3.7 Integrate ethical standards in leadership policy frameworks.
3.8 Design a compliance and ethics audit process for environmental leadership.
🟦 ESM703: Strategic Environmental and Sustainability Risk Management
Aim:
Provide the knowledge and tools to strategically identify, assess, and respond to environmental and
sustainability risks at an advanced level.
➤ Learning Outcome 1: Understand environmental and sustainability risk categories and contexts.
AC Assessment Criteria
1.1 Define and classify environmental and sustainability risks.
1.2 Analyse global environmental risk drivers (climate change, water scarcity, biodiversity loss).
1.3 Evaluate sector-specific sustainability risk profiles.
1.4 Assess organisational exposure to environmental liability and litigation.
1.5 Examine the interaction between environmental and financial risk.
1.6 Evaluate reputational risks from environmental mismanagement.
AC Assessment Criteria
1.7 Analyse stakeholder risk expectations.
➤ Learning Outcome 2: Apply risk assessment methodologies in environmental contexts.
AC Assessment Criteria
2.1 Compare qualitative and quantitative environmental risk assessment tools.
2.2 Apply ISO 31000 principles to sustainability risk management.
2.3 Conduct risk identification and prioritisation using appropriate frameworks.
2.4 Develop environmental risk matrices and heat maps.
2.5 Critically assess risk mitigation strategies.
2.6 Evaluate scenario analysis and forecasting in risk planning.
2.7 Integrate adaptive capacity and resilience planning in risk frameworks.
2.8 Justify the role of risk registers in environmental management.
➤ Learning Outcome 3: Develop strategic environmental risk response plans.
AC Assessment Criteria
3.1 Formulate strategic environmental risk treatment plans.
3.2 Integrate business continuity with sustainability risk responses.
3.3 Evaluate stakeholder communication strategies during environmental crises.
3.4 Develop cross-functional engagement in risk management.
3.5 Monitor and evaluate environmental risk controls.
3.6 Apply cost-benefit analysis to risk treatment options.
3.7 Critique industry case studies in environmental risk failure and response.
3.8 Design a risk governance framework for sustainability.
🟦 ESM704: Corporate Environmental Planning, Performance, and Sustainable Development
Aim:
Develop critical competence in planning and evaluating organisational environmental systems,
performance, and sustainability strategies.
➤ Learning Outcome 1: Understand how to design and implement environmental management
systems (EMS).
AC Assessment Criteria
1.1 Critically evaluate components of effective EMS (e.g., ISO 14001).
1.2 Design an EMS aligned to organisational objectives.
1.3 Examine integration of EMS into existing business systems.
1.4 Analyse internal and external factors influencing EMS success.
1.5 Evaluate methods for environmental impact assessment (EIA).
1.6 Assess the role of audits in EMS monitoring.
1.7 Design EMS documentation and reporting frameworks.
➤ Learning Outcome 2: Understand how to evaluate environmental performance and drive
improvement.
AC Assessment Criteria
2.1 Identify appropriate environmental performance indicators.
2.2 Evaluate performance monitoring and measurement tools.
2.3 Interpret data trends to improve environmental outcomes.
2.4 Assess performance gaps against benchmarks or standards.
2.5 Apply life cycle thinking and LCA to evaluate performance.
2.6 Design a performance dashboard for environmental reporting.
2.7 Recommend corrective and preventive actions for continual improvement.
2.8 Assess the financial implications of environmental performance.
➤ Learning Outcome 3: Understand sustainable development integration into corporate strategy.
AC Assessment Criteria
3.1 Analyse the business case for sustainable development.
3.2 Align sustainability strategies with UN SDGs and climate commitments.
3.3 Critique circular economy principles in corporate policy.
3.4 Integrate resource efficiency into operational planning.
3.5 Evaluate stakeholder expectations in corporate sustainability.
AC Assessment Criteria
3.6 Develop a sustainability maturity model for an organisation.
3.7 Design long-term sustainable development roadmaps.
3.8 Evaluate sustainability reporting frameworks (e.g., GRI, TCFD, CDP).
📋 Indicative Content (in Table Format)
Unit Topics
Environmental leadership models; ethical frameworks; stakeholder engagement; ISO
ESM702 14001; environmental legislation (national and international); climate law trends;
compliance auditing; ESG integration.
Risk types (climate, waste, biodiversity); ISO 31000; risk matrices; forecasting tools;
ESM703 scenario planning; adaptive capacity; stakeholder risk communication; risk governance
frameworks.
EMS design; EIA; environmental KPIs; life cycle assessment; resource efficiency; UN SDGs;
ESM704 circular economy; performance benchmarking; GRI, CDP, and other sustainability reporting
tools.
