ICAEW signs partnerships to expand sustainability reporting training

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has entered into two partnerships to support “consistent” implementation of global sustainability reporting standards.

The announcement has been timed to coincide with London Climate Action Week.

The ICAEW has been approved by the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation as an official training partner under the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) Training Partner Programme.

This status allows the Institute to deliver training material developed by the IFRS Foundation on a worldwide basis. The programme is designed to offer consistent and high‑quality education on sustainability reporting, while allowing for adaptation to local regulatory and market conditions.

IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards are intended to support comparable reporting by companies on sustainability-related financial risks and opportunities.

Investors and capital market participants are expected to use this information in their analysis and allocation decisions.

The standards are already adopted or otherwise in use in around 40 jurisdictions and have been endorsed by the UK Government for voluntary application via the UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS).

In the UK, the Financial Conduct Authority is due to provide further clarity in the second half of the year on amendments to listing rules to incorporate the UK SRS, which are closely aligned with the ISSB framework.

Separately, the ICAEW has agreed to a strategic collaboration with the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges (UN SSE) initiative.

The partnership will initially centre on sustainability reporting and will use stock exchanges as “key capacity building partners”, with activities tailored to accountants and the wider profession.

The UN SSE’s network spans more than 130 partner exchanges, covering most major equity markets worldwide.

ICAEW CEO Alan Vallance said: “Announcing these strategic partnerships during London Climate Action Week reflects ICAEW’s commitment to our members, and the accountancy profession globally, in ensuring sustainability-related financial information serves its strategic purpose: supporting better decision-making, more effective capital allocation, and stronger, more resilient businesses.

“Through our partnerships with the United Nation’s Sustainable Stock Exchanges initiative and the IFRS Foundation, we are supporting the high-quality, consistent and proportionate implementation of global sustainability standards in the public interest.”