Accountants’ Role on UN Sustainability Goals Praised By Government

 Secretary of State for International Development, Justine Greening, has supported the ICAEW’s drive to put the accountancy profession at the heart of global sustainability. ICAEW believes the accountancy profession must play an integral part in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and launched Global Goals, Shared Ambition at its annual Council Conference on Friday 8 July outlining how.

Justine Greening, said: ”Britain played a key role in securing the Global Goals.

Tackling poverty globally is not just the right thing to do – it is firmly in our national interest.

“To achieve the Goals it is vital that government, business and civil society work together. I am delighted that ICAEW is playing a part and I believe the profession has a real role to play.”

The Sustainable Development Goals have replaced the Millennial Development Goals, representing an ambitious vision of a world of prosperous economies and fair and just communities which respect environmental constraints. ICAEW’s publication focuses on the role of Chartered Accountants in the society and how they can contribute to achieving the Goals. ICAEW has joined a community of organisations that have committed to embed the Goals into their activities.

Hilary Lindsay, ICAEW President said: “ICAEW’s first Global Goals publication outlines our vision for the Goals and the role that we believe we can play in supporting them.

“We passionately believe that the whole profession must step up to the challenge of delivering the real change required to achieve the Goals. They will require significant trust: trust from those who are directly affected, trust from those who are contributing to the change and trust in those who are leading the change. Trillions of dollars in public and private funds are to be redirected towards the Goals, creating huge opportunities for responsible companies to deliver solutions. Chartered Accountants must make issues like climate change, human rights and sustainability central to their purpose.”