Sustainability Risk Management Certificate

The Sustainability Risk Management™ (SRM) Certificate program, with Stephen Bushnell, is a comprehensive four week online course that provides a framework and strategy for identifying, evaluating and mitigating the challenges arising at the intersection of risk and sustainability.

Course Background

Until recently, the concept of enterprise risk management (ERM), as it pertains to sustainability and green buildings, has been largely one sided... focused primarily on managing risk. This is changing with the understanding that ERM is also an excellent tool for maximizing green and sustainable value.

As climate risk becomes a mainstream concern, ERM tools become even more important. The Sustainability Risk Management™ (SRM) program is designed for professionals in the insurance, green building or sustainable business fields who want to learn about the important and changing landscape of green risk and enterprise risk management.

The SRM program provides an overview of how enterprise risk management connects to green and sustainable practices, reviews current and future green risks, shows how insurance companies quantify, underwrite and mitigate risk, evaluates green risk transfer/management techniques, and introduces sustainable business, green building design and operations practices that directly mitigate risk.

Natural disaster risk, often the result of a changing climate, is explored with resilience examined as a risk mitigation and adaptation best practice.

This program provides empirical proof that green buildings present less risk than conventional buildings, introduces green insurance concepts and coverage and outlines how insurance premiums may be reduced through sustainable business practices.

The SRM program also presents the combination of enterprise risk management and resiliency principles as the most effect tools to adapt to climate risk. The program culminates with a final exam and a Certificate of Sustainability Risk Management (SRM) for successful completion.

Comprehensive Four Week Online Program:

The program consists of four modules, each exploring a different facet of sustainability and risk management:

• Module 1: The Sustainability Risk Management Process: Explore the strong connections between risk management and sustainability and how a risk management analysis process can also be used to develop sustainability plans and strategies. Discuss a framework for the Sustainability Risk Management Process and how it can support the creation of effective plans to both mitigate risk and maximize sustainable benefits.
• Module 2: Green and Sustainability Risks and Opportunities: Review the risk related characteristics of green buildings and sustainable operations. Discuss how green features and sustainability programs can reduce risk. Identify specific ways in which green features and sustainable business practices result in improved risk management techniques.
• Module 3: Green Insurance: Overview of how typical insurance policies address green buildings and sustainable operations. Explore green building insurance products, features and benefits and key coverage provisions. Discussion of "what's on the horizon" for new green insurance products.
• Module 4: Climate Risk Management: Examine new and increased risks brought on by climate change and catastrophic events. How does climate risk impact investments, organizations, governments and the insurance industry? Why climate risk should be viewed from a risk management perspective, without hype or opinions. Discussion of of resilience as a climate risk mitigation/adaptation best practice. Why are major U.S. cities and Fortune 500 firms advocating for resilient buildings and communities? How can you build resilience into your risk management and sustainability plans and strategies.

About the Instructor:

Stephen Bushnell is a highly experienced insurance and risk management professional with more than 40 years of underwriting, marketing, product development, management and leadership experience at various property and casualty insurers - most recently as Senior Director for Commercial Insurance and Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company (part of the Allianz Group).

Mr. Bushnell is widely recognized as a risk-focused expert on green buildings, sustainable manufacturing and operations, and the broader business, economic and risk management implications of climate, energy and other sustainability challenges.

He holds the CPCU (Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter) and ARM (Associate in Risk Management) designations in addition to an MBA in Sustainable Business. Steve has served on the USGBC National Board Director since 2011.