United Nation’s Agenda Of Sustainable Development

Running head: SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT
SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT
Student’s name
University
Author’s note

SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT1
Introduction
With the enhanced concerns for the United Nation’s agenda of sustainable
development goals being implemented, the practice of sustainability assessment is becoming
imperative, and quiet popular across all sorts of corporate organizations. Sustainability, in its
entirety, refers to the consideration of environmental, social and economic issues pertaining to
the operations and policies of corporate organizations. In this sense, sustainable development is
regarded as the effective alternative to the traditional economic development. To ensure such
sustainable development for the entire mankind, corporate enterprises ought to comply with
certain responsibilities. Moreover, to establish sustainability as the guiding principle in all their
policies and practices, corporates should assess their activities in timely interval with adequate
attention to social, economic and environmental impacts and subsequently declare them to all its
relevant stakeholders (Maas, Schaltegger and Crutzen 2016).
According to Sala, Ciuffo and Nijkamp (2015) sustainability assessment is
considered to be one of the most complex types of appraisal methodologies. This form of
appraisal effectively supports policy making and decision making procedure of an organisation.
In purview of the significant role of sustainability assessment in the organisational operations,
several tools, models, frameworks and indicative systems have been proposed to assess the
informed decisions on sustainable development. To be able to assess effectively, the appraisal
method should follow the “The New Bellagio STAMP”, consisting of guiding vision, adequate
scope, essential considerations, effective communication, indicators and frameworks, as well as
transparency (Opoku 2019).

SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT2
Among many systematic framework of sustainability assessment, the GRI
standards have been recognized as the most accurate assessment guidelines for sustainability
reporting. It provides information regarding an organisation’s negative or positive contribution to
achieve sustainable development.The framework allows the assessing agency to appraise the
policies and practices as per the environmental, social and governance costs and benefits (ESG
Metrics) resulting from the operations of the reporting organisations. The reporting measures
usually encompasses the quantified results of working conditions, payment and benefits, carbon
emission, water and carbon footprint, energy consumption, financial and governance
transparency etc. (globalreporting.org)
The present report is an attempt to assess the policies and practices of Finnegan
Constructions. The reporting assessment will follow the GRI sustainability reporting standards of
2016. The assessment method will adhere to the triple bottom line approach, reviewing the
economic, social and environmental impacts of the organisation based on the ESG metrics.
More specifically, it addresses topical issues as per the topic specific GRI sustainability
standards.
A. Economic sustainability
i) Disclosure 201-2: Financial implications and other risks and opportunities due to
climate change
According to Edenhofer (2015), the severity of the climate change have the potential to
disrupt the financial operation of the company. Subsequently, risk and opportunities caused by
climate change can result is substantive alterations in operations, expenditure or revenue
generation of the organisation. This disclosure stipulates the organisation to describe the

SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT3
opportunity or risk and subsequently classify them under regulatory, physical or other; followed
by the description of the impact related to the risks and opportunities before the attempt to
mitigate them, as well as methods and cost to the actions taken.
The sustainability assessment of Finnegan Constructions states that the organisation has
undertaken a comprehensive work plan pertaining to risks and opportunities arising from climate
change. In the proposed Local environment Plan, the organisation has decided to rezone the
construction sites in the Stanwell district within the next 6 months, as it is declared to be bushfire
prone zone. The organisation has also undertaken a project to enhance safety measures to meet
the higher standards of bushfire safety. The assessment report forecasts that the proposed
amendment in the LEP could cost $4 million, as well as the Town Planning firm would charge an
additional $50,000 for their consultancy. Hence, it could be said that the organisation has the
provision for a clarified timeline and projection of financial implication in their sustainability
reporting.
ii) Disclosure 205-3 Confirmed incidents of corruption and actions taken
The theme of this particular disclosure is subject to the fair governance
policy of the organisation. Under the section, the company should report the total numbers and
nature of confirmed incidents of corruption (205-3A), total numbers of action taken in the form
of dismissal or suspension of employees (205-3B), or other disciplinary actions such as
termination of contracts with partners (205-3C) and public legal cases regarding the
organisation’s engagement in corruption (205-3D) during the reporting period.
(globalreporting.org)
Finnegan Constructions reported that there has been a public legal case against two
business partners and five employees of the organisation. The complaint placed by David alleged