AI Governance Training for Employees

Section 1: Introduction to Climate Risk

This section introduces the concept of climate risk, emphasizing its growing importance in the business world. Learners will understand the global context, including reports from the IPCC, COP28 outcomes, and Net Zero targets. This section explains why climate risk is now a crucial topic for company boards and shares real-world examples of how climate events disrupt operations, such as factory shutdowns and disrupted supply chains. Key Topics Covered:

• What is climate risk?
• Global context: IPCC reports, COP28 outcomes, Net Zero targets
• Importance of climate risk in the boardroom
• Real-world examples: factory shutdowns, CEO quotes, disrupted supply chains

Section 2: Understanding Physical and Transition Risks

In this section, learners will distinguish between physical risks (e.g., floods, wildfires, droughts) and transition risks (e.g., carbon taxes, ESG regulations). The section also covers industry-specific impacts, including how retail warehouses, insurance claims, and manufacturing operations are affected. Learners will also explore risk maps that overlay climate impacts across sectors like finance, agriculture, and logistics. Key Topics Covered:

• Physical risks: floods, wildfires, droughts, sea-level rise
• Transition risks: carbon taxes, changing customer behavior, market shifts
• Industry-specific examples: retail, banking, manufacturing
• Risk map visual overlay for various sectors

Section 3: Key Corporate Responsibilities

This section explains why companies have a duty of care regarding climate risk, touching on legal, ethical, and reputational obligations. Learners will understand stakeholder expectations from investors, regulators, and customers. The module also addresses greenwashing risks and provides a non-technical overview of key climate risk frameworks such as TCFD, ISSB, and CSRD. Key Topics Covered:

• Duty of care: legal, ethical, and reputational responsibilities
• Stakeholder expectations: investors, regulators, customers
• The risk of greenwashing and its consequences
• Overview of frameworks: TCFD, ISSB, CSRD
• CEO accountability in climate risk management

Section 4: Climate Risk in Business Operations

This section explores how climate risk affects various business functions, including procurement, logistics, facilities management, and IT. Learners will understand how different departments manage climate risks, such as volatile prices in procurement, extreme weather impacting logistics, and rising energy costs in facilities. The section also includes role-based scenarios where employees make decisions based on their department. Key Topics Covered:

• Risk in operations: procurement, logistics, facilities, IT
• Sector-specific examples: retail, banking, manufacturing
• Role-based scenario: making decisions based on department needs

Section 5: Climate Risk Management Basics

In this section, learners will be introduced to a four-step approach for managing climate risk: Assess → Plan → Mitigate → Report. The section covers risk registers, internal assessments, and how to integrate climate risk into business continuity planning. It also highlights the roles of various departments, from legal to facilities, in managing climate risk, along with essential controls like procurement policies and energy audits. Key Topics Covered:

• Four-step approach: Assess → Plan → Mitigate → Report
• Internal assessments and risk registers
• Integrating climate risk into business continuity plans
• Cross-functional roles in managing risk

Section 6: What Can You Do?

This section encourages employees to take small, actionable steps to reduce their climate impact at work, such as reducing energy use and supporting green vendors. Learners will also explore how to contribute to a climate-conscious culture, using internal reporting tools and speaking up about risks. The section includes real-life examples of climate champions within organizations. Key Topics Covered:

• Micro-actions: reduce energy, support green vendors, report risks
• Encouraging a climate-conscious culture at work
• Using internal reporting tools: ESG team contact, speak-up channels
• Real-life examples of workplace climate champions

Section 7: Wrap-Up & Final Assessment

This section summarizes the key takeaways from the course, reinforcing the importance of understanding and managing climate risk. Learners will take a final quiz to assess their knowledge, and successful completion will trigger a Certificate of Completion. Employees are encouraged to explore their company’s ESG page or contact the climate officer for further engagement. Key Topics Covered:

• Recap: climate risk is business risk
• Everyone has a role in climate risk management
• The importance of clear frameworks and corporate resilience
• Final quiz and certificate of completion