CEOs of leading accounting professional bodies calls on all accountants to put their skills to use to help businesses fight climate change.
As part of The Prince’s Accounting for Sustainability Project (A4S) Accounting Bodies Network, which collectively represents over 2.5 million accountants and students worldwide, 14 major accounting bodies1 are today publishing a declaration calling on the profession to put sustainability and the fight against climate change at the forefront of its work.
The accounting bodies said their members had a critical role to play to help effect meaningful change because of their expertise with advising businesses about risk management and their responsibility to act in the public interest.
Tackling climate change needs practical measurement and management, and accountants are key to helping businesses build sustainability into their working practices, commercial relationships and supply chains, the accountancy leaders explained.An accountant’s role should demonstrate the risks to business posed by climate change, such as the impact of flooding or the effect of drought on the price of crops needed in the supply chain, said the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants .
The accounting profession has long focused on assessing and managing financial risks. However, the global risks we are seeing today, in particular environment-related risks, are pushing our profession to expand its remit, said Barry Melancon, CEO of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants.
“As core members of almost every business, government, and non-governmental organisation, accountants are ideally positioned to help organisations assess and manage these new risks,” he noted. “Accountants have an important role to play improving an organisation’s integrated thinking and decision-making capabilities to promote responsible business practices, improving outcomes for both stakeholders and our environment.”
The Call to Action asks accountants across the world to integrate climate change risk into organisational strategy, finance, operations, and communications; support sustainable decision-making; and provide sound advice and services
As part of the Call to Action, the global accounting bodies have pledged to provide support to help their members fulfil this role, said the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants .
