Helen Brand

The group who has rallied the business forces under this pledge is CSR Europe.

The signatories of the pledge, over 400 CEOs across Europe, are convinced that what is needed is a New Deal for Europe – one with a shared sustainable vision for its future.

Helen Brand said: “ACCA is a longstanding promoter of taking the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a compass to make the transformation required towards a socially just transition to a low carbon economy.

“As the 17 SDGs approach their fifth-year anniversary, leaving just ten years to achieve them by 2030, they are becoming better understood as tools for governments, business, investors and civil society to coalesce around, in order to improve how economies can deliver inclusive and sustainable prosperity. But we still have significant work to do.”

ACCA, as part of its public interest remit, also fully endorses the commitment to provide value to society and sustainable profitability through a strong purpose and ethical foundation of its business.

Ms Brand continued: “We all need to recognise the interconnectedness of social and environmental value. This will require companies to embrace societal purpose and engage with context, precision, resources and determination to understand and disclose impact. Ultimately, it will be the understanding and reporting of societal impact that will radically shift capital and business ecosystems into social and environmental value creation opportunities.

“As we argue in our recent ACCA report on ESG value creation, the global economy is entering a new era where social and environmental issues are strategic to all activities undertaken by businesses. This requires a global, concerted approach.  

“At ACCA, we are convinced that the level of engagement with these issues by businesses and finance will determine the quality of life for people and other species, and that decision-makers and regulators can play a role in monitoring risk and demanding higher standards.

“Meanwhile, improving corporate disclosures on a range of social and environmental risk areas is a domain where professional accountants are well placed to lead, with investors also fundamental to accelerating the transition to a more sustainable future.”