One of the ICAEW’s strategic themes is: Helping to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals which is critical to addressing these issues. Reflecting on some of the activity in 2021, we continued to position our members as being at the forefront of understanding and implementing the SDGs.

While all professions have a role to play in tackling climate change, chartered accountants work at the heart of the business strategies that will make some of the biggest differences in reaching net zero. ICAEW helped organisations to understand the economic as well as moral imperative to address this, and to adapt successfully. Listen to Michael Izza on members’ role in tackling the climate crisis.

Since becoming carbon neutral in 2020 ICAEW’s journey to carbon neutrality, we are delighted to have now joined 13 other professional accountancy bodies – all members of Accounting for Sustainability’s Accounting Bodies Network (ABN) – in the Net Zero Commitment. As well as committing to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, we have undertaken to encourage and enable our membership to do the same. Together we represent 2.5m chartered accountants globally.

More information on the delivery of this strategic theme can be found in the annual report. What is your organisation doing to as part of the journey to net zero? How is your organisation adapting to the risk of climate change or meeting 21^st century global challenges? Have you thought about sharing your story by entering the Finance for the Future awards? The deadline is Tuesday 14 June. For more information, visit www.financeforthefuture.org or contact olivia.cox@icaew.com.

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