ACCA publishes its commitments to delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals

The UN Secretary General declared 2020 to be the year to mobilise for a “decade of action” to deliver the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Today, ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) announces its contribution to this global ambition by publishing its own commitments to the delivery of the SDGs.

 

ACCA recognises the importance of all 17 interconnected SDGs, and asserts that its commitments demonstrate that ACCA and its community can make the most significant contribution towards nine of them. These include offering access to a quality finance and accountancy education that is free from artificial barriers, becoming Net Zero by 2030, and working in partnership to build an inclusive global profession that supports the development of ethical, sustainable and successful businesses and economies.

 

Helen Brand OBE, chief executive of ACCA says: ‘Setting out our commitments is an important and necessary step in ensuring ACCA and its community plays a key role in the transformational change business and society needs to see over the next decade. Publishing them brings transparency and accountability to our work and is a logical progression for an organisation that has a proud history of championing sustainability. Our purpose, values and strategy to 2025 already align closely to the SDGs, and this latest development shows our whole-hearted commitment to delivering on them, reporting on them annually and engaging with appropriate partners to help us do this.’

 

Jimmy Greer, head of ACCA sustainability adds: ‘We have a clear rationale for each commitment, with a framework of measures to drive the delivery of our commitments. This measurement is important, and it complements our ongoing advocacy in this critically important area. We plan to keep “walking the talk” when it comes to sustainability. Our commitments are a work in progress, which we can build, evolve and unite around. Finally, we recognise that delivering the SDGS cannot be done alone. It is a massive global effort and ACCA is intent on continuing to play its part.’

 

ACCA’s commitments and the relevant SDGS are:

Commitment UN SDG link

Commitment	UN SDG link
We will offer access to a quality finance and accountancy education that is free from artificial barriers.	UN SDG 4: Quality education
We will promote gender equality across our global community and achieve gender equality across our employee population.	UN SDG 5: Gender equality
We will support our community to progress in their careers so they can actively contribute to sustainable economic growth.	UN SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth
We will empower our community so they can support organisations to be ethical, sustainable, successful and able to participate in the global economy.	UN SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
We will advocate for inclusion, diversity and social mobility within, and on behalf of, our community, and ensure ACCA is a fair and inclusive place to work.	UN SDG 10: Reduced inequalities
We will promote sustainable practices and reporting, working with our community and our employees to reduce the consumption of resources.	UN SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production
We will embed green finance in our qualifications and learning products to improve capability across the profession for climate action. We will advise and support governments and regulators to develop and adopt the regulations and reporting practices needed to transition to a Net Zero carbon economy. At ACCA, we’re committing to becoming Net Zero by 2030.	UN SDG 13: Climate action
We will promote and adhere to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity and ethics.	UN SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
We will work in partnership to build an inclusive global profession that supports the development of ethical, sustainable and successful businesses and economies.	UN SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals