Helen Brand, OBE, chief executive of ACCA (The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), is now part of the widest group of CEOs ever mobilised in Europe for sustainability, calling on businesses, policymakers, and civil society organisations to join forces in a series of actions.

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 says : “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.

“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 ”, Helen Brand explains.

Helen Brand concludes: “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 that professional accountants are well placed to lead on, with investors also fundamental to accelerating the transition to a more sustainable future”.

Ends

For media enquiries, contact:

E: cecile.bonino-liti@accaglobal.com

Twitter: @ACCAViews

About ACCA

ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the global body for professional accountants, offering business-relevant, first-choice qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world who seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management.

ACCA supports its 219,000 members and 527,000 students (including affiliates) in 179 countries, helping them to develop successful careers in accounting and business, with the skills required by employers. ACCA works through a network of 110 offices and centres and 7,571 Approved Employers worldwide, and 328 approved learning providers who provide high standards of learning and development.

Through its public interest remit, ACCA promotes appropriate regulation of accounting and conducts relevant research to ensure accountancy continues to grow in reputation and influence.