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Shanghai forum highlights key role of accountants in carbon challenge

07 Jul 2010

The impact of climate change, and the challenges and opportunities it poses to businesses, was the theme of ACCA's Accountancy Futures forum in Shanghai on 2 July.

Entitled Carbon Accounting - Catalysing a Low-Carbon Economy, the event considered the business consequences of new environmental reporting requirements, the changes required in governance, as well as how to formulate adaptation policies, and taxation and carbon trading changes.

Among those speaking at the forum were leading experts from KPMG, the Carbon Trust, the World Bank, China Beijing Environment Exchange, and Wal-Mart China.

'Ten years ago, few people in the business world could see the link between their operations and climate change,' said Neil Stevenson, ACCA executive director - brand. 'But during the coming year, every major business can expect to be asked about its greenhouse gas emissions and how it plans to mitigate the impact of those emissions. Those questions will not only come from environmental groups but from leading stock exchanges, governments and investors.

'To respond to such questions and to demonstrate action, businesses will need to involve accountants, and this event allowed delegates to share experiences and seek advice from leading experts in carbon accounting and climate issues.'

For more details on ACCA's Accountancy Futures programme, access the microsite.