A growing number of companies look to external assurance providers to validate their sustainability reports. And while most cite enhanced credibility and reliability as the leading benefits from gaining external assurance, there is evidence that companies can gain significant internal benefits as well.

Assurance often provides opportunities to identify and drive process and performance improvements through the organization. But, the use of assurance has also provided opportunities for organizations to sharpen their sustainability reporting to deliver more value to management, customers, investors and stakeholders.

The aim of this workshop is to familiarize participants with the assurance process and how it can be critical to further improving data quality as well as corporate responsibility management and governance procedures.

Apart from that, participants will gain an understanding of the most common and important lessons learned from the implementation of an effective assurance engagement in conjunction with the role assurance plays towards stakeholders’ and investors’ appreciation of corporate value.


#3.2 Reducing the environmental impact: A course on greenhouse gas (GHG) management & reduction

The workshop is a focused introduction to the Greenhouse Gas Management Topic.

The participant will acquire essential information and basic understanding on the available and forthcoming tools and methodologies through which companies and organizations may manage and reduce (carbon) greenhouse gas emissions for business processes, services, events and products. Carbon controlled vs carbon neutral entities.

Middle and High Level Business Executives in companies and organizations, working on or being responsible to propose, design or implement plans  on corporate social responsibility,  reduction of the climate and the environmental impact of the company of its services or its products,  increasing energy efficiency, achieving or enhancing competitive advantages, providing  a balanced combination between growth and sustainable development.

The workshop is focusing on the use in Companies and Corporation of several  international standards, like:

• GHG protocol - Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard
• ISO 14064-1:2006 - Specification with guidance at the organization level for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals
• BS 8901:2007 - Specification for a sustainable event management
• PAS 2050:2008 - Specification for the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services and
• the GHG protocol - Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard.

It provides Essential Information on Practices that enhance the Sustainability of a Business Process, an Event, a Service or a Product, by managing and eventually reducing their subsequent greenhouse gas emissions.

It gives an understanding on Carbon Neutral vs Carbon controlled entities
The Workshop provides the needed knowledge and understanding to help organizations quantify, manage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions of their operations, services events and products.

Academic knowledge: any typical BSc level

Work Experience: None particular experience on the topic is required, but an understanding on the current challenges of today organizations and companies due to climate change will be helpful.

#3.3 Target setting and strategy implementation to become the environmental leader in your field

E.U. Directive 2004/35/CE as transposed to the Hellenic legal framework through Presidential Decree 148/2009, establishes a common pan-European liability scheme with a view to preventing and remedying damage to water, soils and biodiversity. Article 14 on financial security stipulates that preventive or remedial action is compensated by the operator responsible. This new strict liability regime in Greece introduces serious concerns to all permitted operators with potentially serious financial implications in case of environmental damage.