AEM 2550 - Corporate Sustainability: Business in a Resource-Constrained World

(CU-SBY)

Fall (weeks 8-14). 1.5 credits.

J. Tobin.

This course is intended to introduce students to the topic of corporate sustainability and to the risks and opportunities faced by large corporations operating in a resource-constrained world, with a particular focus on the financial services industry. The course will illustrate the principles of corporate sustainability while highlighting the practical challenges faced by practitioners in large corporate entities today, and will seek to develop in students the ability to recognize and assess sustainability risks and opportunities in the business world. Topics to be covered include: environmental and social impacts of corporate activity; environmental and social risk management; stakeholder engagement and the influence of civil society on corporate behavior; industry responses to sustainability challenges; business opportunities created by resource limitations; environmental finance and impact investing.

Outcome 1: Identify the drivers of corporate sustainability.

Outcome 2: Recognize environmental and social risks and assess their potential impacts on corporate entities.

Outcome 3: Anticipate environmental and social risks that may impact corporate entities and formulate appropriate courses of action to better manage those risks.

Outcome 4: Stimulate critical thinking skills and a precautionary approach to risk.

Outcome 5: Examine stakeholder interactions and relationships with industry peers strategically and recognize opportunities for shared benefits.

Outcome 6: Critically assess proposed transactions in the area of values-based investing and evaluate the expected benefits and market potential of the transactions.