00 — LearnWorlds Course Architecture Blueprint
ESRS Masterclass E4 – Biodiversity and Ecosystems
School
[ECOWORLD] Sustainability Academy
Course
ESRS Masterclass E4 – Biodiversity and Ecosystems
Delivery Format
Fully online (LearnWorlds) | English + main EU languages (auto-translated)
Total Duration
~4.5–5 hours (half-day equivalent, self-paced)
Assessment
- Module quizzes: 10 questions each, 80% pass, unlimited retakes (24h cooldown after 3rd)
- Final exam: 40 questions drawn randomly from all module groups, 80% pass
- Certificate: Auto-issued on course completion + final exam pass, valid 12 months
Quarterly Refreshers
- Q1: Sector deep-dive (e.g. agriculture, mining, infrastructure, forestry — biodiversity hotspots)
- Q2: Regulatory update (EU Biodiversity Strategy, Deforestation Regulation, Natura 2000 changes)
- Q3: Case study review (real-world E4 disclosures and biodiversity commitments)
- Q4: Annual disclosure review (required for certificate renewal)
Key July 2025 Changes
| Change | Details |
|---|---|
| Transition plan conditional | E4-1 is mandatory ONLY if a biodiversity transition plan exists and has been publicly disclosed |
| Material IROs removed | Impact, risk, and opportunity analysis removed from topical standard |
| Scenario analysis to NMIG | Detailed scenario analysis moved to non-mandatory illustrative guidance |
| E4-5 consolidated | Location-specific metrics condensed into one paragraph |
| E4-6 centralised | Financial effects moved to ESRS 2 |
| Offsets in E4-3 | Biodiversity offsets explicitly addressed within actions and resources |
Course Structure
SCHOOL: [ECOWORLD] Sustainability Academy
└── COURSE: ESRS Masterclass E4 – Biodiversity and Ecosystems
│
├── Section 0: Welcome & Orientation
│ ├── Video: Welcome to ESRS Masterclass E4 (3 min)
│ ├── Ebook/PDF: Course overview, objectives & July 2025 changes
│ └── Download: Course syllabus (PDF)
│
├── Section 1: Module 1 — Biodiversity Transition Plan (E4-1)
│ ├── Video: What is a biodiversity transition plan? (7 min)
│ ├── Ebook/PDF: E4-1 theory — conditional disclosure, plan components, public disclosure trigger
│ ├── Assignment: Assess whether a sample company triggers E4-1 disclosure
│ ├── Quiz: Module 1 Quiz (10 Qs, 80% pass)
│ └── Download: 05_biodiversity_transition_plan_template.docx
│
├── Section 2: Module 2 — Policies on Biodiversity (E4-2)
│ ├── Video: Writing effective biodiversity policies (7 min)
│ ├── Ebook/PDF: E4-2 theory — policy scope, no net loss, mitigation hierarchy, value chain
│ ├── Assignment: Review and critique a sample biodiversity policy
│ ├── Quiz: Module 2 Quiz (10 Qs, 80% pass)
│ └── Download: 06_esrs_e4_disclosure_template.docx
│
├── Section 3: Module 3 — Actions, Resources & Offsets (E4-3)
│ ├── Video: From policy to action — including biodiversity offsets (8 min)
│ ├── Ebook/PDF: E4-3 theory — mitigation hierarchy, offsets, restoration, CapEx/OpEx
│ ├── Assignment: Design a biodiversity action plan with offset assessment
│ ├── Quiz: Module 3 Quiz (10 Qs, 80% pass)
│ └── Download: 09_biodiversity_impact_tracker.xlsx
│
├── Section 4: Module 4 — Biodiversity Targets (E4-4)
│ ├── Video: Setting measurable biodiversity targets (7 min)
│ ├── Ebook/PDF: E4-4 theory — no net loss, net gain, SBTN, area-based targets
│ ├── Assignment: Set biodiversity targets for a sample company
│ ├── Quiz: Module 4 Quiz (10 Qs, 80% pass)
│ └── Download: 10_biodiversity_dashboard.xlsx
│
├── Section 5: Module 5 — Location-Specific Metrics (E4-5)
│ ├── Video: Mapping your biodiversity footprint (8 min)
│ ├── Ebook/PDF: E4-5 theory — site proximity, sensitive areas, IUCN, Natura 2000
│ ├── Assignment: Map biodiversity exposure for a sample company's sites
│ ├── Quiz: Module 5 Quiz (10 Qs, 80% pass)
│ └── Download: 08_biodiversity_questionnaire.xlsx
│
├── Section 6: Module 6 — Financial Effects (E4-6 / ESRS 2)
│ ├── Video: Financial effects of biodiversity risk (6 min)
│ ├── Ebook/PDF: E4-6 theory — ecosystem service dependency, stranded assets, opportunities
│ ├── Assignment: Estimate financial effects for 3 biodiversity scenarios
│ ├── Quiz: Module 6 Quiz (10 Qs, 80% pass)
│ └── Download: (uses disclosure template)
│
└── Section 7: Assessment & Certification
├── Video: Course wrap-up & next steps (3 min)
├── Final Exam: 40 questions (random draw), 80% pass
├── Download: 07_certification_template.docx
└── Certificate: Auto-issued on pass, valid 12 months
Module Duration Summary
| Section | Module | Topic | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Welcome | Orientation & July 2025 changes | 15 min |
| 1 | Module 1 | E4-1: Biodiversity Transition Plan | 35 min |
| 2 | Module 2 | E4-2: Policies on Biodiversity | 35 min |
| 3 | Module 3 | E4-3: Actions, Resources & Offsets | 40 min |
| 4 | Module 4 | E4-4: Biodiversity Targets | 35 min |
| 5 | Module 5 | E4-5: Location-Specific Metrics | 45 min |
| 6 | Module 6 | E4-6: Financial Effects (ESRS 2) | 30 min |
| 7 | Assessment | Final Exam & Certification | 30 min |
| Total estimated duration | ~4.5 hours |
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Determine whether E4-1 (biodiversity transition plan) applies based on the conditional disclosure trigger and explain its required components.
- Develop biodiversity policies covering the mitigation hierarchy (avoid, minimise, restore, offset), sensitive areas, and the value chain (E4-2).
- Design biodiversity action plans including appropriate use of biodiversity offsets and the conditions under which they are acceptable (E4-3).
- Set measurable biodiversity targets using frameworks like SBTN, including no net loss and net gain commitments (E4-4).
- Map operational sites against biodiversity-sensitive areas (Natura 2000, IUCN, KBAs) and prepare location-specific disclosures (E4-5).
- Assess ecosystem service dependencies and prepare biodiversity financial effect disclosures under ESRS 2 (E4-6).
File-to-Module Mapping
| File | Name | Primary Module(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 00 | LearnWorlds Architecture | All |
| 01 | Quiz Bank (MDX) | All |
| 02 | Facilitator Guide | All |
| 03 | Participant Workbook | All |
| 04 | Case Studies A, B, C | M3/M3/M5 |
| 05 | Biodiversity Transition Plan Template | M1 (E4-1) |
| 06 | ESRS E4 Disclosure Template | M1–M6 |
| 07 | Certification Template | Assessment |
| 08 | Biodiversity Assessment Questionnaire | M5 (E4-5) |
| 09 | Biodiversity Impact & Site Tracker | M3/M5 |
| 10 | Biodiversity Monitoring Dashboard | M4/M5 |
| 11 | LearnWorlds Quiz Import (XLS) | All |
Key Regulatory & Framework Cross-References
| Framework | Relevance to E4 |
|---|---|
| EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 | Sets the EU-level ambition for biodiversity recovery |
| Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) | Global targets including 30x30 (30% protection by 2030) |
| TNFD (Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures) | Framework for nature-related risk assessment and disclosure |
| SBTN (Science Based Targets for Nature) | Methodology for setting corporate biodiversity targets |
| Natura 2000 | EU network of protected areas — key for E4-5 site proximity |
| IUCN Red List | Global standard for species conservation status |
| Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) | Internationally recognised sites of biodiversity importance |
| EU Deforestation Regulation | Due diligence for deforestation-free supply chains |
| Mitigation hierarchy | Avoid → Minimise → Restore → Offset (core E4-3 principle) |
| CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity) | International treaty underpinning global biodiversity governance |
LearnWorlds Settings Checklist
- Course drip: All sections available immediately (self-paced)
- Quiz settings: 80% pass, unlimited retakes, 24h cooldown after 3rd attempt
- Final exam: 40 random questions from all groups, 80% pass
- Certificate: Auto-issue on completion + exam pass, 12-month validity
- Translations: Enable AI auto-translation to all EU languages
- Completion tracking: All lessons mandatory
- Refresher schedule: Q1/Q2/Q3/Q4 sessions configured as separate mini-courses
Document: 00_learnworlds_architecture.mdx Course: ESRS Masterclass E4 – Biodiversity and Ecosystems Version: 1.0 | April 2026 | [ECOWORLD] Sustainability Academy