| Approx Course Duration *: | Equivalent to Approx. 1 Hour/s |
| Access to Course Content: | 18 Months from the date of enrolment |
| Qualification/s: | Focus on ESG Principle 8 Compliance and Conformity |
| CPD Hours: | 1 Continuing Professional Development Hours |
As ESG scrutiny increases, organisations are expected not only to make commitments, but to prove them credibly. Clause 8 of ISO IWA 48:2024 addresses how organisations demonstrate ESG compliance and conformity in a transparent, reliable, and evidence-based way.
This microcredential focuses on Clause 8 – Compliance and Conformity, clarifying the difference between legal compliance and voluntary conformity, and explaining how conformity assessment supports trustworthy ESG reporting. You’ll explore how validation, verification, and assurance help ensure ESG claims are accurate, defensible, and not perceived as greenwashing.
Rather than treating compliance as a burden, ISO IWA 48 positions it as a strategic enabler of trust, helping organisations build confidence with regulators, investors, customers, and other interested parties while supporting continual improvement.
Who this course is for
This course is designed for professionals involved in ESG reporting, assurance, risk, or compliance, or those responsible for substantiating ESG claims.
It’s particularly suited to:
- ESG, sustainability, and reporting professionals
- Risk, compliance, and governance practitioners
- Internal auditors and assurance team members
- Consultants supporting ESG disclosures and claims
- Managers responsible for ESG data, evidence, or reporting integrity
No prior ESG or ISO certification experience is required.
What you’ll learn
By completing this microcredential, you’ll learn how to:
- Interpret the intent and scope of ISO IWA 48:2024 Clause 8
- Distinguish clearly between compliance and conformity in ESG
- Understand why conformity assessment is critical for ESG credibility
- Apply validation and verification concepts to ESG claims
- Understand first-, second-, and third-party conformity assessments
- Identify the role of evidence, data quality, and transparency in ESG assurance
- Reduce the risk of misleading claims or greenwashing
- Support continual improvement through conformity-based approaches
A stackable, certified microcredential clarifying regulatory compliance and voluntary conformity in ESG.
Why this microcredential matters: Clause 8 distinguishes between compliance (legal obligation) and conformity (voluntary demonstration of meeting standards).
Understanding this distinction strengthens ESG credibility and reduces greenwashing risk.
This microcredential contains the following lessons, with a knowledge check and a short-format exam upon completion.
| Lesson Topic | Focus Area | Key Takeaways |
|---|---|---|
| Clause 8.1 | Compliance Requirements | Identify and manage applicable legal, regulatory, and mandatory ESG obligations. |
| Clause 8.2 | Compliance vs Conformity | Distinguish between mandatory compliance and voluntary conformity to recognized standards and frameworks. |
| Clause 8.3 | Conformity Assessment | Apply validation, verification, and assurance mechanisms (first-, second-, or third-party) to support credible ESG reporting. |
Course details:
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Coming Soon
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Approx 1 hours full-time study*
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Stackable Digital Microcredential
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Standard: IWA 48:2024 ESG
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No prerequisites required
* All ATOL courses are delivered in such a way you can work through them at your own pace, the actual time to complete the training may change depending on the individual learners' experience and/or learning style
NO PREREQUISITES