ICAS' involvement in global sustainability networks and forums
In order to ensure that we are as effective and influential as possible, members of the ICAS Sustainability Committee actively participate in a number of global sustainability bodies.
This furthers the Committee’s aim of working with other organisations to share ideas, information, research and other resources in order to develop the area of environmental sustainability in business.
Below you can find details of our member’s involvement in different organisations at the following levels:
- Organisations with which ICAS has direct participation through committee member(s) or secretary
- Organisations with which ICAS has occasional participation through committee member(s) or secretary or maintains a watching brief
Organisations with which ICAS has direct participation through committee member(s) or secretary:
Accounting for Sustainability (AA4S)
Set up by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2004, A4S encourages the accounting and finance community to support a fundamental shift towards resilient business models and a sustainable economy. It aims increase engagement and develop practical tools that encourage and enable behavioural change.
ICAS Sustainability committee convener, George Cobb, participates in A4S CFO Network, a group of leading senior finance representatives from large businesses seeking to embed the management of environmental and social issues into business processes and strategy.
Accounting Bodies Network (ABN)
The Accounting Bodies Network (ABN) was established by A4S and is a global group of influential accounting bodies brought together to help minimize the duplication of initiatives undertaken in isolation and to achieve a common approach to accounting for sustainability. It is an open, cross border network, where members can share knowledge and collaborate on accounting for sustainability-related matters.
ICAS is a one of the member bodies and is represented by Anne Adrain, Assistant Director, Sustainability and Assurance, to lead/engage in collaborative projects tackling key sustainability issues with other members of this network.
ICAS Sustainability Committee member, Rachel Jackson, is a former ABN representative.
Website: https://www.accountingforsustainability.org/en/about-us/our-networks/abn.html
Federation of European Accountants (FEE)
Website: http://www.fee.be
FEE is an international non-profit organisation based in Brussels that represents institutes of professional accountants and auditors across Europe. It contributes to policy development in relevant areas such as corporate reporting, audit, tax, ethics and corporate governance.
ICAS is represented at FEE across a variety of disciplines including Audit & Assurance; Corporate Reporting; Public Sector; Professional Ethics; by members of the Technical Policy staff or technical committee members.
ICAS Sustainability Committee member, Rachel Jackson, is a former FEE representative.
Website: http://www.fee.be
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
GRI is an international independent organisation that helps businesses, governments and other organisations understand and communicate the impact of business on critical sustainability issues such as climate change, human rights, corruption and many others. It promotes the use of sustainability reporting as a way for organisations to become more sustainable.
Professor Carol Adams and Rachel Jackson are both members of the ICAS Sustainability Committee and members of the GRI Stakeholder Council.
Website: https://www.globalreporting.org/information/about-gri/Pages/default.aspx
Climate Disclosure Standards Board (CDSB)
The CDSB is an international consortium of business and environmental NGOs committed to advancing and aligning the global mainstream corporate reporting model to equate natural capital with financial capital. It includes large global accounting firms and professional bodies in its membership and is developing the climate change reporting framework.
Professor Carol Adams, a member of the ICAS Sustainability Committee, is a member of the Technical Working Group.
ICAS Sustainability Committee member Rachel Jackson is a former member of the CDSB Technical Working Group.
Website: http://www.cdsb.net
Organisations with which ICAS has occasional participation through committee member(s) or secretary or maintains a watching brief
Financial Reporting Council (FRC)
UK Regulatory and standard-setting body.
Website: https://www.frc.org.uk
International Federation of Accountants (IFAC)
Global standard-setting body on audit, ethics, education and public sector.
ICAS Sustainability Committee member Rachel Jackson is a former member of the IFAC Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Sustainability Working Group
Website: https://www.ifac.org
Global Accounting Alliance (GAA)
An alliance of 11 accountancy bodies in significant capital markets created to promote quality services, share information and collaborate on important international issues. ICAS, ICAEW, and CA Ireland are UK&I based members.
Chartered Accountants Worldwide (CAW)
A collaborative body of the leading institutes of chartered accountants from around the world to support, develop and promote the vital role that Chartered Accountants play throughout the global economy. ICAS, ICAEW, and CA Ireland are UK-based members.
International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC)
Established in 2010 by A4S, GRI and IFAC, the IIRC is a global coalition of regulators, investors, accountants and business leaders which aims to establish integrated reporting and thinking within mainstream business practice as the norm in the public and private sectors. An integrated report is a concise communication about how an organisation's strategy, governance, performance and prospects, in the context of its external environment, lead to the creation of value in the short, medium and long term.
ICAS Sustainability Committee member Carol Adams was a member of the IIRC's Capitals Technical Collaboration group that developed the Capital's Background paper
Website: http://integratedreporting.org
Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB)
SASB’s mission is to develop and disseminate sustainability accounting standards for U.S. public corporations enabling them to disclose material, decision-useful information to investors including environmental, social and governance impacts.
ICAS Sustainability Committee member Rachel Jackson is a former member of the SASB Advisory Council.
Website: http://www.sasb.org
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
UNCTAD is the United Nations body responsible for dealing with development issues, particularly international trade.
In addition, UNCTAD offers direct technical assistance to developing countries and countries with economies in transition, helping them to build the capacities they need to become equitably integrated into the global economy and improve the well-being of their populations.
Conferences and expert meetings are held annually to share experiences and international developments.
ICAS Sustainability Committee member Carol Adams is an advisor to UNCTADS's working group of experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting (ISAR).
Website: http://unctad.org/en/Pages/Home.aspx
Financial Stability Board (FSB)
The Financial Stability Board (FSB) is an international body that monitors and makes recommendations about the global financial system. It promotes international financial stability by coordinating national financial authorities and international standard-setting bodies as they work toward developing strong regulatory, supervisory and other financial sector policies. It fosters a level playing field by encouraging coherent implementation of these policies across sectors and jurisdictions.
The FSB, working through its members, seeks to strengthen financial systems and increase the stability of international financial markets. The policies developed in the pursuit of this agenda are implemented by jurisdictions and national authorities.
Website: https://www.fsb-tcfd.org