At a recent ACCA Q&A session ‘Our planet too big to fail: how finance can power a sustainable future’, panel members answered questions from members about making sustainability a reality.
The discussions, chaired by Sally Eaves, senior policy analyst at the Global Foundation for Cyber Studies and Research, included views of attendees about the recently released short film by conservation organisation the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Our Planet: Too Big to Fail.
The film addresses the role the finance sector can play in the transition to a sustainable future. It points out that finance is in a unique position to incentivise the transition by agreeing to lend to, invest in and insure only those businesses that manage their nature risks and impact.
‘Members recognise the barriers and can visualise how to make sustainability happen in a simple and intuitive way’
Further information
Listen again to the discussion ‘Our planet too big to fail: how finance can power a sustainable future’
Watch the WWF film Our Planet: Too Big to Fail
Sustainability is a subject close to ACCA members’ hearts. A recent survey of 820 members found that over 90% want to see their organisations do more to have a positive impact on society and the environment and to create a fairer and more ethical world.
‘Members recognise they have a vital role in building this sustainable world and want to effect change,’ says Jimmy Greer, ACCA’s head of sustainability and a panel member at the Q&A. ‘They recognise the barriers that stand in the way and can visualise how to make it happen in a simple and intuitive way.’
Panel member Alison Midgley, sustainable finance specialist at WWF UK, urged members to get involved, while Clémence Lecat, director of audit and assurance at KPMG, said: ‘Accountants know how to interact with different stakeholders, from operational to legal to compliance. We can bring everyone to the table to drive the sustainability agenda forward.’
‘The global pandemic has given us a chance to pause for reflection, to reset and to reimagine what the future might look like,’ Eaves added. ‘It has also shown us the vast capacity we have in collaboration to effect scalable change. So let’s change the narrative and rethink business for a sustainable recovery.’
