Emerging Risks and Corporate Responsibility
- General Info

ZIRIUS University of Stuttgart

Due to the introduction and the increasing development of new technologies (e.g. Fracking, Nanotechnologies, LNG Regasification, Terahertz technologies, CCS, hydrogen, CO₂…), technological aspects which could lead to new “emerging risks”, in addition to the economical, social and environmental aspects of “classical” CSR strategies, are being more and more taken in account.  

The wish to stress these additional aspects is reflected in the title of this course – Emerging Risks and integrated Corporate Social Responsibility - which is understood as an introduction to the emerging risks issue and a widening of the traditional CSR concept.  

Main focuses of the lecture:

• Key elements of (i)CSR and how these elements function as an integrated system
• Key elements of Emerging Risks and integrated Risks management / Risks governance
• Key elements of LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) and its uses as a technique to assess environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a product's life from-cradle-to-grave to help to avoid a narrow outlook on environmental concerns
• Practical embedment of (i)CSR into corporate and/or country business strategy and daily practice (CSR methodologies and tools)
• The technology related aspects as a part of modern practices in industry
• Analysis / comparison of the practices in the EU, US and other countries
• Data and information on relevant case studies from key industries and references to main sources of data and information
• Student projects using interactive and online-materials (e.g. online-based surveys, EU-Project-related research, excursions to companies and national and international institutions)
• ENERGY-TRANS: The energy transformations in Germany and beyond include an accelerated phase-out from nuclear energy, the rapid expansion of renewable energy sources and the ambitious increase in energy efficiency. These goals place substantial demands on energy research and energy policy making. This transformation is not only a technical but also a societal challenge. It requires an effective, efficient and socially compatible integration of technological development, organizational structure and behavioral adaptations. This integration is crucial for the energy transition to succeed