ICSD launches certified ESG course and expands its global coverage

The International Chamber of Sustainable Development (ICSD) marked notable milestones in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives during a Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony on May 14. The event was honored by the presence of Dr. Lam Ching-choi, SBS, JP, Non-official member of the Executive Council, and Chairman of the Council for Carbon Neutrality & Sustainable Development. Distinguished guests from diverse sectors of society also graced the occasion.

ICSD has launched the first Certified ESG Planner (CEP®) course in Hong Kong, introducing the pioneering CEPAR® five-step methodology to aid stakeholders in understanding corporate risk and addressing ESG-related issues. This initiative aims to promote and professionalize ESG education while enhancing the recognition and awareness of sustainable development ideology among individuals and enterprises. Notably, CEPAR® was recently published in the international journal “Public Administration and Policy” in the United Kingdom, underscoring its academic value and practical applicability as a vital guiding principle for ESG planning and action.

Dr. Angus Yip Wing-hang, Founding Chairman of ICSD, stressed the importance of cultivating certified ESG planners with professional knowledge and skills in the process of promoting sustainable development. “Various ESG courses in the current market lack practical and concise methods for addressing practical ESG issues, and CEPAR® can fill this gap,” he noted. Currently, ICSD has over 2,000 members who are certified ESG planners from diverse industries.

Highlighting CEPAR®’s wide academic recognition, he believes that students will be able to apply CEPAR® within enterprises, thereby integrating sustainable development concepts into business strategies and operational policies, and driving positive societal and environmental transformations.
ICSD has also announced the establishment of a chapter at the Centre for Socio-Eco-Nomic Development (CSEND) in Geneva, Switzerland, which holds special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

Prof. Raymond Saner, co-founder of CSEND, points out that international cooperation and knowledge sharing are key to effectively addressing the global challenges. “The establishment of an ICSD chapter at CSEND showcases the strength of cross-border collaboration and the shared mission of pursuing sustainable development,” he added.  “Our hope is that the collaboration can nurture more ESG talents and collectively achieve sustainable development goals.”

The CEP®course is set to expand to mainland China and conducted in Mandarin for the first time in September, offering individuals in the Greater Bay Area with specialized knowledge and skills in ESG, and enabling them to address sustainability challenges and align with national policies and carbon neutrality goals.

“ICSD is committed to popularizing ESG through education and driving international cooperation,” said Dr. Mike Hui, Founding Vice Chairman of ICSD. ICSD has expanded its global presence by establishing chapters in the UK, Switzerland, and upcoming in Singapore, with a focus on promoting the CEP® course in Southeast Asia. They are also actively involved in launching educational courses in the Middle East.

The CEP® course is offered at three major institutions: the ‘Sustainable Banking and Finance’ program at the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong; the ‘Executive Certificate in ESG Planning’ by the Hong Kong Management Association; and the ‘Executive Certificate in ESG Investment’ by Lingnan University LIFE. In the last two years, over 3,000 individuals have completed the course, with the CEPAR® five-step methodology being a core component of these programs.