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The Accounting Bodies Network (ABN) has “reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable economic transformation” by endorsing five revised core sustainability principles.
ABN, an alliance between A4S and 12 professional accountancy bodies across the globe, said the principles “set a clear agenda” for how accounting bodies can support their members to lead on sustainability through education, advocacy, innovation and redefined notions of value.
Through the renewed commitment to core sustainability principles, ABN members can “continue to build on their existing efforts, ensuring their members and students are equipped to meet the demands of the evolving finance profession”.
The network said the adoption of the newly revised principles updates the principles established 17 years ago, whilst renewing the commitment of accounting bodies to sustainable business practices.
It added that the new principles recognise the achievements made to date, while setting “more ambitious goals for the future”.
Notable milestones include the signing of a shared commitment to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions within their own organisations, as well as providing support for members to do the same.
Helen Slinger, A4S executive director, said: “The ABN have now collaborated and produced revised principles which create a foundational framework for the ongoing transformation of the profession to help drive a global sustainable economy.
“From embedding sustainability throughout all the work of ABN members and leveraging their influence, expertise and position, the ABN will work to drive the shifts needed in the finance and accounting community to achieve tangible impact and accelerate the sustainable transition.”
She added: “The impact we ultimately seek to achieve is for our profession to uphold the public interest by playing a meaningful role in ensuring a sustainable global economy.”
ICAEW and ICAS are members of the ABN, as well as Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA), Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), Chartered Accountants Ireland and CPA Australia, among others.
