Chartered Accountants Ireland joins global accountancy bodies in net zero commitment

Chartered Accountants Ireland has joined UK accountancy bodies ICAEW, ICAS, AAT and ACCA and others across the world to combat climate change by committing to net zero greenhouse gas emissions. This includes commitments to achieve net zero emissions in their own organisations and to encourage and guide their significant membership base to do the same.

The accountancy bodies are part of The Prince of Wales’s Accounting for Sustainability Project (A4S) Accounting Bodies Network. This network represents more than 2.5 million professional accountants and students, across 179 countries, representing two-thirds of the world’s accountants.

The bodies have committed to reach net zero emissions as soon as possible and will publish plans to do so within the next 12 months, reporting annually to show progress. They have also committed to provide their members with training, support, and resources to help them create their own net zero plans and reduce their emissions. 

In launching the commitment, the bodies reiterated that climate change is of critical concern to their members because it is the responsibility of professional accountants to act in the public interest, which must now include helping to reach net zero. It is also an economic risk to the businesses they work with and the countries they work in. 

The accountancy bodies stated their belief that the accountancy profession can help societies adapt to minimise climate change, using accounting practices to help governments adjust economic policy. They also committed to providing advice to help governments create the policies and infrastructure necessary for the transition to net zero economies. 

Commenting Barry Dempsey, Chief Executive, Chartered Accountants Ireland said

“On behalf of Chartered Accountants Ireland, I am pleased to make this commitment to net zero. It is a natural and very necessary continuation of last year’s call to action on climate change issued by the professional accounting bodies. This Institute is committed to substantially reducing carbon emissions in our own activities; we are already decarbonising our Scope 1 and 2 emissions and have put in place a roadmap for the future. 

“The accountancy profession will play a significant and vital role in achieving climate change mitigation and adaptation, but many accountants are unsure where to start. We have an immediate responsibility to equip our members to take action through our education and advocacy work on their behalf.” 

The accountancy bodies that have signed up to the commitment are: ICAEW, ICAS, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, Chartered Accountants Ireland, AAT, ACCA, Consiglio Nazionale dei Dottori commecialisti e degli Esperti Contabili, CPA Australia, CPA Canada, Institut der Wirtschaftsprüfer in Deutschland e.V. (IDW), Regnskap Norge, the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, the Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (JICPA). 

The commitment is available to view at: www.accountingforsustainability.org/abn-net-zero-commitment 

ENDS

About The Prince’s Accounting for Sustainability Project (A4S) 

Our aim is to make sustainable business, business as usual. HRH The Prince of Wales established A4S in 2004 to work with the finance and accounting community to: 

• Inspire finance leaders to adopt sustainable and resilient business models 
• Transform financial decision making to reflect the opportunities and risks posed by the climate crisis and other environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues 
• Scale up action to transition to a sustainable economy  

A4S has three global networks:  

• Chief Financial Officers (CFO) Leadership Network - CFOs from leading organizations seeking to transform finance and accounting 
• Accounting Bodies Network (ABN) - members comprise approximately two thirds of the world’s accountants 
• Asset Owners Network - Pension Fund Chairs who integrate sustainability into investment decision making 

About Chartered Accountants Ireland 

Chartered Accountants Ireland is Ireland’s leading professional accountancy body, representing 30,000 influential members around the world and educating 7,000 students. The Institute aims to create opportunities for members and students, and ethical, sustainable prosperity for society. An all-island body, Chartered Accountants Ireland was established by Royal Charter in 1888 and now has members in more than 90 countries. It is a founding member of Chartered Accountants Worldwide, the international network of over one million chartered accountants. It also plays key roles in the Global Accounting Alliance, Accountancy Europe and the International Federation of Accountants.  

Chartered Accountants Ireland members provide leadership in business, the public sector and professional practice, bringing experience, expertise and strict standards to their work for, and with, businesses in every sector. Chartered Accountants Ireland engages with governments, policy makers and regulators on key issues affecting the profession and the wider economy.