MSc (Environmental Management)
Environmental and Sustainability Management - Law, Governance and Practice
LL5459X [E1] and [E2]
Semester 1 AY 2024/2025
GROUP ASSIGNMENT
This Assignment will account for 40% of your overall grades
Groups are to select and answer ONE (1) out of Question A, B or C.
Instructions:
1. Group presentation of preliminary update (max 15 min) to be presented on [E1] 4 Nov 24; and [E2] 5 Nov 24.
2. Word Limit - The upper word limit for the written assignment is 5000 words (excluding footnotes and references, if any). Information, views and ideas from other sources relied on or included in the submission should be acknowledged via a footnote. Direct quotes, where used, should be cited and referenced. Where internet sources are used, the URL link should be included. Please use Calibri font size 12, line spacing 1.15.
3. Indicate clearly at the top of the paper whether you have selected Question A, B or C. Please state the Group Name (if any) and Matriculation Numbers of the group members on the frontpage of the paper. Your names must NOT appear in the paper.
4. Submission deadline - The completed written assignment to be uploaded to the Group Assignment Submission folder on CANVAS in pdf format no later than 11.59 pm on Friday, 22 Nov 2024. Marks will be deducted for late submission without a valid reason.
5. The group assignment constitutes 40% of your overall grades of which :-
(a) oral presentation - 5%
(b) written submission - 35%.
Question A
ChromusCo is a mid-size family owned Asian based company that manufactures a diverse range of meat and plant-based food products. ChromusCo owns and operates its own farms (livestock and agriculture) and food processing plants in Asia but also sources from a global network of small farmers both directly as well as indirectly. ChromusCo also contracts with a carefully selected global network of third party factories to manufacture their products. ChromusCo distributes its goods globally through various channels. ChromusCo intends to further expand their operations globally including establishing new facilities in Africa and LatinAmerica and growing their revenue and profitability especially in the EU and US markets. Recent market surveys reflect increasing consumer demand for organic and sustainably sourced products which ChromusCo has to date, not consciously deployed in its sourcing and production practices.
The CEO is aware that an Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action” was signed by over 150 countries at COP28 although he is not familiar with the details. He also learnt that the COP29 Presidency has announced a Thematic Day on Food, Agriculture and Water at COP29, reflecting the importance that the COP29 Presidency has placed on agriculture and advancing sustainable and resilient food systems globally. He recalls that ChromusCo’s corporate communications director has recently highlighted the increasing scrutiny of the sector’s environmental footprint by regulators, investors and the public as well as concerns among stakeholders about ethical sourcing, labour practices and product traceability.
The CEO is concerned about the implications of these developments on ChromusCo’s operations and expansion plans and has appointed your firm to advise the Board and management. He sees merit in integrating sustainability into ChromusCo’s business model and the need for a cohesive sustainability strategy that can effectively address the challenges inherent in the industry.
Your firm has been appointed to advise the CEO and ChromusCo’s management on the various dimensions of sustainability and ESG; the relevant regulatory and voluntary ESG standards and trends in the sector; the material issues specific to ChromusCo; the risks and opportunities; the possible elements of an integrated sustainability and ESG strategy as well as a roadmap towards the development and implementation of such strategy. Your firm may address other issues that your firm considers pertinent.
The CEO has requested a preliminary update of up to 15 minutes next week and a full report to be submitted by 22 Nov 2024.
You may refer to actual examples and studies from other companies in the food and agricultural sector to support your recommendations and highlight best practices.
Question B
TragexCo is an Asia based technology conglomerate that is known for its innovative software and hardware including a range of electronic consumer products. TragexCo corporate tagline is “ Technology as a force for good, technology for the future” .
TragexCo’s consumer products are known for their innovative features and packaging, with new product lines released every 18 months. TragexCo owns and operates a few assembly plants in Asia but mostly engages third party original equipment manufacturers located in other countries to manufacture and/or source the components and assemble the products.
TragexCo’s services include cloud computing and data management and recently started collaborating with an AI start up to integrate AI features in their products. To support their service offerings, TragexCo established data and server centres in various countries around the world. Since then, the government in a few of these countries have committed to more ambitious NDCs and have considered imposing regulations such as carbon pricing or cap and trade regimes to limit carbon emissions.
While TragexCo has achieved commercial success, TragexCo’s management recognises the growing importance of sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations and need to align its operations with sustainability goals. The management has learnt that the COP29 Presidency intends to launch the Green Digital Action Declaration but is not aware of its focus as regards the role of digitalization for climate action or its implications for TragexCo.
Meantime, TragexCo’s investors and some activist shareholders have demanded that the firm adopts a more comprehensive and proactive approach to address environmental, social, and governance concerns. NGOs have criticised the company for contributing disproportionately to GHG emissions, contributing to plastic and e-waste and not doing its part for sustainable development.
TragexCo’s board of directors have established a taskforce to develop a comprehensive and innovative ESG strategy that aligns with the company’s values as well as the company’score business operations. The board of directors see this as critical to maintaining and enhancing the company’s competitive edge and financial performance.
The task force’s terms of reference is to advise the board of the rationale and various dimensions of sustainability and ESG; the relevant regulatory and voluntary ESG standards and trends in the sector; the material issues specific to TragexCo; the risks and opportunities the possible elements of an integrated sustainability and ESG strategy as well as a roadmap towards the development and implementation of such strategy. The taskforce may address other issues that it considers pertinent.
The task force is to provide a preliminary update of up to 15 minutes next week and a full report to be submitted by 22 Nov 2024.
You may refer to actual examples and studies from other companies in the technology sector to support your recommendations and highlight best practices.
Question C
HexCois amid-size global transportation, distribution and logistics company. HexCo provides freight and package delivery and courier services for a range of customers ranging from corporate customers, SMEs and individuals. HexCo owns and operates a fleet of planes and local transportation vehicles. HexCo also owns and operates warehouses 24/7 in most jurisdictions in which they operate, to handle the processing of freight and packages. In some countries, HexCo contracts with local partners to handle the domestic processing and domestic collection / delivery of freight and packages.
While HexCo has gained considerable market share of the global e-commerce market, HexCo’s institutional investors are keen for HexCo to expand and join the league of market leaders in the global logistics sector.
HexCo’s CEO is conscious of the environmental footprint of the company’s operations, recalling a McKinsey report which stated that the transport sector produces 23% of global energy-related CO2 emissions and is a major source of local outdoor air pollution. HexCo has been advised of the likelihood of countries making more ambitious NDCs and imposing
regulations such as carbon pricing or cap and trade regimes. In addition, many of their customers are increasingly sensitive to Scope 3 emissions emanating from their transportation, distribution and logistics supply chain. NGOs have also flagged the logistics sector for their contribution to packaging waste. The CEO noted that COP29 will feature among others, a Climate Compatible Growth COP29 Transport Day, a Sustainable Transport Day at the SDG Pavilion, and a thematic Transport Day Presidency and is anxious about the implications of any potential COP29 developments on HexCo.
HexCo’s CEO recognises the growing importance of a more comprehensive and proactive approach to sustainability and to environmental, social, and governance concerns and has appointed across-departmental committee to develop a comprehensive and innovative ESG strategy that aligns with the company’s values and the company’score business operations, as well as to capture new “green” opportunities. This is critical to the success of HexCo’s expansion plans.
The committee is to submit a report to HexCo’s management on the various dimensions of sustainability andESG; the relevant regulatory and voluntary ESG standards and trends in the sector; the material issues specific to HexCo; the risks and opportunities; the possible elements of an integrated sustainability and ESG strategy as well as a roadmap towards the development and implementation of such strategy. The committee may address other issues that it considers pertinent.
The committee is to provide a preliminary update of up to 15 minutes next week and a full report to be submitted by 22 Nov 2024.
You may refer to actual examples and studies from other companies in the logistics sector to support your recommendations and highlight best practices.
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