Global resources

The vision of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) is that the accountancy profession is essential to strong, sustainable organizations, financial markets, and economies. Consequently, the accountancy profession has a crucial role in the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, as represented by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at sustaining people, planet and prosperity. IFAC has identified five key actions, and five relevant questions, for PAOs to consider as they work to advance the SDGs. Chartered Accountant and Council Member Joan Curry is a board member of IFAC, and is supported by the Advocacy and Voice team of the Institute.

Our sister institute for England and Wales, ICAEW, has been building an enormous repository of articles, reports, case studies, tools and other sources of information about sustainability. It makes this content freely available to the public, and continually adds to it, and to the ongoing conversation around accounting and sustainability.

Our sister institute for Scotland, ICAS, has a section of news, practical tools and links, information about the sustainable development goals and other professional resources for members looking for information on sustainability. ICAS's Head of Sustainability & Assurance, Anne Adrian, is Secretary to ICAS Sustainability Panel, which aims to increase the awareness of ICAS and its members of current issues pertaining to environmental and other sustainability issues and to formulate the ICAS position on matters of environmental sustainability to the business community and the wider public.

Chartered Accountants Ireland has been an active member of the Global Accounting Alliance (GAA), both within its Tax, Education and Sustainability working groups. The GAA and Accounting for Sustainability (A4S) intersect through the Accounting Bodies Network, a collaboration between A4S and professional bodies across the globe. Together the Network represents over 2.5 million professional accountants and students across 179 countries, representing two thirds of the world's accountants.

One of the focus areas of Accountancy Europe is Sustainable Finance, and the organisation provides news, events, publications and consultation responses on the topic.

Accounting for Sustainability (A4S) was established by HM King Charles III in 2004, when he was The Prince of Wales, “to help ensure that we are not battling to meet 21st century challenges with, at best, 20th century decision making and reporting systems.” Its aim is the promotion of sustainable decision-making in business. It works with Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) and finance teams; the accounting community; investors, capital markets & the wider finance community; Governments, regulators & policy makers; and Business schools and academia. Chartered Accountants Ireland supports A4S through its participation in the 'Accounting Bodies Network'  (see above) and contributes to several workstreams around integrated reporting, communications, and promoting sustainability to members.

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a global, CEO-led organization of over 200 leading businesses working together to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world. It targets the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through six work programs: Circular economy; cities & mobility; climate & energy; food & nature; redefining value; people. Its Resources section has publications, tools and case studies from across these working group.