Microcredential | Introduction to IWA 48 ESG focusing on Principles 1-3

*Approx Course Duration :**	Equivalent to Approx. 1 Hour/s
Access to Course Content:	18 Months from the date of enrolment
Qualification/s:	Microcredential \| Introduction to IWA 48 ESG focusing on Principles 1-3
CPD Hours:	1 Continuing Professional Development Hours

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) expectations are increasing globally; from investors, regulators, customers, and internal stakeholders alike. ISO IWA 48:2024 provides a practical, internationally applicable framework to help organisations embed ESG principles into their culture, operations, and decision-making.

This microcredential introduces the core ESG implementation principles defined in ISO IWA 48:2024, with a focused study of Clauses 1 to 3. You’ll explore ESG foundations, the global ESG landscape, risk-based thinking, and how the PDCA cycle supports consistent, measurable ESG outcomes.

Designed for real-world application, the course emphasises practical understanding rather than prescriptive reporting, helping you confidently interpret ESG requirements and align them with existing frameworks such as GRI, IFRS S1 & S2, CSRD, and ESRS.

Who this course is for

This course is designed for professionals who need a clear, structured introduction to ESG implementation using ISO guidance, without unnecessary complexity.

It’s particularly suited to:

ESG, sustainability, or governance professionals
Risk, compliance, and assurance practitioners
Consultants supporting ESG or sustainability initiatives
Managers responsible for ESG integration or reporting alignment
Professionals preparing for deeper ESG or ISO-based training

No prior ESG or ISO experience is required.

What you’ll learn

By completing this microcredential, you’ll learn how to:

Explain the purpose and structure of ISO IWA 48:2024
Understand the global ESG reporting and regulatory landscape
Apply ESG principles using a risk-based thinking approach
Use the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle to support ESG implementation
Interpret Clause 1 (Scope) and its practical implications
Understand Clause 2 (Normative References) and its intent
Use Clause 3 (Terms and Definitions) to ensure consistency and clarity
Align ESG principles with widely used frameworks and standards

What you’ll be able to do

After completing the course, you’ll be able to:

Confidently discuss ESG using ISO-aligned terminology
Support ESG initiatives with a structured, principles-based approach
Identify ESG risks and opportunities across environmental, social, and governance domains
Assist organisations in embedding ESG into governance and operational practices
Prepare for further ESG implementation, auditing, or assurance training

This microcredential can be stacked or extended into broader ESG or assurance learning pathways, including future ISO-aligned ESG implementation or audit-focused courses within the ATOL ecosystem.

A stackable, certified microcredential for ESG professionals seeking structured guidance on ISO IWA 48:2024 Principles 1–3.

Why this microcredential matters: Clauses 1–3 of ISO IWA 48:2024 establish the foundation for implementing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles within an organization. These clauses clarify the document’s scope, confirm the absence of normative references, and define key terminology critical for consistent ESG interpretation and application.

This microcredential introduces the implementation foundations of ESG, including the PDCA cycle, risk-based thinking, relevant ESG frameworks, and core definitions aligned with ISO and IEC terminology platforms .

This microcredentials contains structured lessons with integrated knowledge checks and a short-format assessment upon completion.

Lesson Topic	Focus Area	Key Takeaways
Lesson 1	Module Overview & ESG Foundations	Understand the purpose of ISO IWA 48:2024 and how ESG principles support performance, measurement, and reporting.
Lesson 2	ESG Resources & Global Reporting Landscape	Recognize major ESG frameworks and regulatory influences including CSRD, ESRS, IFRS S1/S2, GRI, TCFD, ISSB, and related global initiatives.
Lesson 3	Benefits of Implementing ESG	Identify how ESG strengthens transparency, stakeholder trust, risk management, and long-term value creation while remaining flexible and context-driven.
Lesson 4	PDCA Approach in ESG	Apply the Plan–Do–Check–Act cycle to ESG objectives, controls, monitoring, corrective action, and continual improvement.
Lesson 5	Risk-Based Thinking	Interpret ISO’s definition of risk and integrate environmental, social, governance, financial, and physical risks into ESG decision-making.
Lesson 6	Foundations of ESG Principles & Practices	Understand how IWA 48:2024 provides high-level, adaptable guidance for embedding ESG within organizational culture and strategy.
Lesson 7	Clause 1 – Scope	Interpret the purpose and applicability of IWA 48:2024 as a high-level, interoperable framework that supports harmonized ESG implementation globally.
Lesson 8	Clause 2 – Normative References	Understand that IWA 48:2024 contains no normative references and what this means for implementation flexibility.
Lesson 9	Clause 3 – Terms and Definitions	Apply standardized ESG terminology including sustainability, sustainable development, interested party, and personnel using ISO/IEC databases.

No prerequisites required

This course is currently undergoing certification and will be available shortly.

Course details:

Coming Soon
Approx 1 hours full-time study*
Stackable Digital Microcredential
Standard: IWA 48:2024 ESG
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