FORUM RESOURCES AND RECENT ACTIVITY
Forum members and interested parties are active in promoting and developing accounting for sustainability. Below are a selection of recent activities, please contact us for any suggested additions.
CIPFA Annual Conference 2010: the turning point
8th - 10th June 2010, Harrogate International Centre
This year marks a turning point for public services: the coming years will require effective planning, difficult decisions, and confident leadership as the way public money is managed and spent comes under the spotlight as never before. This year's CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting) annual conference aims to provide delegates with the strategic insight and skills they need to succeed in the challenges ahead. http://www.cipfaannualconference.org.uk
Government Financial Reporting Manual - HM Treasury consultation
March 2010 - The Financial Reporting Manual is the technical accounting guide that complements guidance on the handling of public funds published separately by the relevant authorities. The Manual is prepared following consultation with the Financial Reporting Advisory Board and is issued by the relevant authorities in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Incorporating ethics into strategy - The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
In February 2010 the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) released its discussion paper on Incorporating ethics into strategy: developing sustainable business models which looks at how management accountants can shape ethical business agendas and incorporate ethics into strategy.
Valuing sustainability reporting: perspectives from the international investment community - CPA Australia
In November 2009 CPA Australia released the latest of their Corporate Reporting Pulse publications. The two most recent CPA Australia Corporate Reporting Pulse research reports have focused specifically on the emergence of non-financial reporting as a significant form of corporate disclosure. The latest research therefore, allows us to track the views of the broader investment community on various aspects of this type of disclosure, also known as sustainability reporting.
This survey, conducted in Hong Kong, Australia and the United Kingdom, gauges views on the emerging global frameworks for non-financial reporting, and on the readiness of the markets to adapt to the requirements embedded in these frameworks. The 2009 research, conducted in the immediate aftermath of the global financial crisis shows a significant increase in economic confidence. Not surprisingly, the 2008 research, conducted at the height of the crisis, returned much lower levels of confidence. Nevertheless, these global economic events have emphasised how we must think long and hard about how business is transacted, and of the role of the corporation in broader society.
Environmental Accounting CSR Survey - The Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants
CAPA surveyed its member bodies activities on environmental accounting/CSR issues in order to share such information with all member bodies. The findings were published in a survey report released on 31 October 2009 at a forum in Beijing, China.
Climate Change: the role of the Finance Professional - The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants survey results
In October 2009 the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and The Prince's Accounting for Sustainability Project (A4S) surveyed 900 international finance and sustainability professionals about climate change and their organisation's agenda.
CIMA has long emphasised the key role finance professionals have to play in ensuring organisations consider climate change in a strategic context and integrating sustainability issues into their long-term decision making processes, a view supported by A4S. An encouraging 80% of respondents agree that the finance function should be engaged in climate change initiatives, although only a third are currently involved in this area on a formal basis. CIMA survey results
Business Reporting in Practice - The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia
In September 2009 the ICAA released the Broad Based Business Reporting Supplementary Paper (347KB, PDF) which sits alongside their Complete Reporting Tool (1.35 MB, PDF)
"Fighting climate change" - Article in Public Finance magazine - By John Maddocks of The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy - 10 September 2009
Management's Discussion & Analysis: Guidance on Preparation and Disclosure, The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants
In July 2009 the Canadian Performance Reporting Board (CPRB) , under authorisation from CICA, published Management's Discussion & Analysis: Guidance on Preparation and Disclosure (407 KB, PDF). Originally published in November 2002 and revised in 2004, the guidance responded to concerns that many MD&A disclosures lacked usefulness and clarity. These 2009 revisions reflect changes in legislation, securities regulation, the economic environment, and best practice in MD&A reporting.
Climate Change Briefing - Questions for Directors to Ask - The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants
In July 2009 the Risk Management and Governance Board of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) commissioned a publication to provide a series of questions corporate directors can ask relating to the business implications of climate change. The publication titled "Climate Change Briefing - Questions for Directors to Ask" is intended increase awareness among corporate board members about the business impacts and governance issues associated with climate change. The publication was co-authored by Julie Desjardins and Alan Willis, experienced CAs who have contributed valuable guidance relating to climate change for many years.
IFAC Sustainability Framework
The International Federation of Accountants have published a Sustainability Framework. According to the IFAC website, this is a web-based tool aimed at "...professional accountants working in commerce, industry, the public sector, education, and the not-for-profit sector who the International Federation of Accountants strongly believes can influence the way organisations integrate sustainability into their objectives, strategies, management, and definitions of success."
"In clearly defining the different facets of sustainability, the IFAC Sustainability Framework can help professional accountants grasp all the important aspects of sustainability that they may encounter, directly or indirectly, and that will be important to their organisations."
Click here to go to the IFAC website to view the Framework in more detail.
ICAEW Business Sustainability Programme (BSP)
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)'s BSP e-learning programme is designed for accountants and business professionals who want to learn about the business case for sustainability.
The course is spread over five modules taking users from definitions of sustainability and corporate responsibility, through case studies and finally towards developing an individually tailored sustainability strategy for their business.
The first two modules are free to everyone. Access to the whole programme is £23.50 for members and £47.00 for non-members. For more information and to download a brochure visit www.icaew.com/bsp
Sustainability Reporting in the Third Sector
The Charities Finance Directors Group (CFDG) are creating some specific guidance for charity finance directors on a) how to tackle sustainability in charities, and b) how and where to report action on sustainability. The guidance is due to be published in the first half of 2009.
Click here for more on the CFDG's approach to sustainability.