CSE and GRI to host “Preparing a Sustainability Report” - Batch 2 | Page 3 | Sunday Observer

CSE and GRI to host “Preparing a Sustainability Report” - Batch 2

12 June, 2021

Following the success of the first batch of Technical series 2019-2020, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) in collaboration with Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) is organising the second batch of the Technical Series titled “Preparing a Sustainability Report” from 10.30 a.m. to 12 noon from June 15-22.

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is an independent international standard-setting organization that helps businesses and governments worldwide understand and communicate their impact on critical sustainability issues such as climate change, human rights, governance and social well-being.

GRI pioneered sustainability reporting in the late 1990’s and has since become the globally accepted standard for enabling business, governments and other organizations to understand and communicate their impacts on critical sustainability issues. Today the framework is being used by governments, financial regulators, capital markets, businesses in more than 100 countries around the world. GRI has also been working very closely with the UN to move businesses to report clearly on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  While Sri Lanka does not have a regulation that mandates sustainability reporting, the practice is encouraged by the voluntary adoption under the Code of Best Practice on Corporate Governance issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CASL) together with The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka(SEC). GRI South Asia in collaboration with CSE actively engaged with listed companies through a series of workshops, sessions and virtual roundtables. As a result, we have seen 5 times rise in sustainability reporting and a six-fold rise in GRI reports among the listed companies (from 2013 to 2019).  Furthermore, it has been established that reporting on impacts using GRI, helps organizations better anticipate risk, and develop strategy for long term sustainability of the business. 

CSE in collaboration with GRI, launched the ESG Guidance document titled ‘Communicating Sustainability: Six Recommendations for Listed Companies Version 02’. The Technical Series will refer to this publication and several other GRI resources and tools to support participating companies to prepare a GRI Standard based report.  In addition to this we will also invite practitioners and experts from various organisations to share their perspectives, tips, experience and expectations from reporters.

In this high value, professional workshop, we will discover why it makes business sense to adopt sustainable business practices, how to monitor, manage and communicate on your performance.

The workshop will be facilitated by GRI South Asia. In addition to GRI and CSE, external experts are also invited to share their perspectives and experience from DNV, Ernst & Young, KPMG and invited speakers from Listed companies in Sri Lanka. It is an ideal opportunity for listed companies to start their reporting journey. 

The Technical Series is exclusive for Listed companies and large companies in Sri Lanka (Manager and above) from diverse department who would contribute to preparing the sustainability report of the organization (e.g.: CSR or sustainable development department of the company, HR, Communication, Finance, Operation, Corporate Planning, Risk, Health and Safety). No prior knowledge on CSR or Sustainability is required for attending the series. This is a three-part workshop series.

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