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Latest News Notes and related content Detailed map of International section Sitemap
European Union / European countries
USA, Canada, Australia, India ...
Big international accounting and auditing firms
Collections of company financial reports
· IASB International Accounting Standards Board > e.g.
o Current Projects > e.g.
§ IASB Projects > e.g.
· Conceptual Framework
· Management Commentary > e.g.
o Exposure draft (June 2009; .pdf has 34 pp.)
§ Comments received by 1 March 2010
o Discussion paper (October 2005; .pdf has 96 pp.)
§ »The Board asked the Financial Reporting Standards Board (FRSB) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand to provide staff to lead the project. The UK Accounting Standards Board (ASB), the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) and the Deutsches Rechnungslegungs Standards Committee e.V. (DRSC) were asked to provide staff to assist with research and drafting.«
§ What is is MC?
· »There is a consistent view among those issuing requirements that MC supplements and complements financial information, providing insights into an entity’s performance that financial statements cannot, and should not, be expected to achieve on their own. This might be achieved through the presentation of non-IFRS financial information and non-financial information.«
§ See Appendix B: Existing requirements for MC
· IOSCO, Australia, Canada, European Union (EU), Germany, New Zealand, United Kingdom (UK), United States (USA)
§ >>
· Comment Letters
o Meeting Summaries and Observer Notes
o See also:
§ PwC PricewaterhouseCoopers >>
· PwC corporate reporting blog (David Phillips, senior corporate reporting partner; PwC UK)
· World watch: Governance and corporate reporting (newsletter, containing also »Broader reporting hot topics«)
§ CRUF Corporate Reporting Users’ Forum
· The CRUF was formed in 2005 as a discussion forum with the aim of helping its participants in their approach to the debate on current and future corporate reporting requirements. In particular, participants are keen to have a fuller input into the deliberations of the International Accounting Standards Board.
· See also
o Article at RI Responsible Investor: Plea for pension funds to engage on reporting standards (25 May 2010; By Daniel Brooksbank)
· Deloitte >>
o IAS Plus
· IFAC International Federation of Accountants > e.g.
o Media Centre >
§ News Releases > e.g.
· IFAC and the Prince’s Accounting for Sustainability Project Collaborate to Promote Sustainable Organizations (4 May 2010)
o ... entered into a memorandum of understanding ...
o Key priorities to support the work of professional accountants in embedding sustainable practices include:
§ Raising awareness and facilitating sharing and collaboration across the global accountancy community, ...
§ Establishing an international integrated reporting committee ...
§ Incorporating accounting for sustainability within professional training and education.
· IFAC Consultation Paper Explores Assurance Aspects of Proposed Sustainability Reporting Guidelines (9 February 2006)
o The IFAC consultation paper, Assurance Aspects of G3 – The Global Reporting Initiative's 2006 Draft Sustainability Reporting Guidelines (Registration for free download needed), explores issues in the proposed G3 Guidelines that specifically relate to assurance reporting.
o Standard-Setting Boards:
§ IAASB International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board >
· >>
o Assurance Engagements on Carbon Emissions Information
§ A project proposal was approved in December 2007.
§ A draft proposed ISAE is expected to be presented at the June 2009 meeting.
· Recently completed projects >
o Commitees:
§ International Center for Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) > e.g.
· Financial Reporting Supply Chain: Business Reporting Recommendations from Key Leaders >>
o Financial Reporting Supply Chain
§ Business Reporting Article Series:
· Theme 1: Good Governance and Sustainability Fundamental for Improved Business Reporting (June 2010):
o Transcripts (= interview transcripts):
§ Interviewees: Guy Jubb (.pdf, 8 pp.; Standard Life Investments, UK), Joe Kaeser (.pdf, 13 pp.; Siemens), Mervyn King (.pdf, 10 pp.), Masayasu Uno (.pdf, 11 pp.; Daito Construction and Trust, Japan)
· Sustainability Framework (Updated 2010, February 2009)
o The Sustainability Framework, developed by the PAIB Committee, is a web-based tool that targets professional accountants working in commerce, industry, the public sector, education, and the not-for-profit sector who can influence the way organizations integrate sustainability into their objectives, strategies, management, and definitions of success.
o The Framework addresses four perspectives in bringing together all the critical areas required to successfully manage a sustainable organization. These perspectives are:
§ Business Strategy
§ Internal Management
§ Financial Investors
§ Other Stakeholders
o The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) chaired the working group which developed the Sustainability Framework.
o See also
§ related news: New IFAC Sustainability Framework Supports Organizations in Improving Products, Lowering Costs, and Raising Good Will (New York, 6 February 2009)
· News
o PAIB eNews is an electronic communication issued three to four times per year.
§ Also »Topics Related to Sustainability«
o > e.g.
§ April 2009 (Special Issue on Sustainability)
· Resources >
o Relevant Links
o Speeches
· Publications > e.g.
o Articles of Merit
· >
o PAIB Newswire > e.g.
§ Sustainability and the Role of Professional Accountants in Business Subject of Two New IFAC Papers (29 August 2006)
· The first information paper, Why Sustainability Counts for Professional Accountants in Business (short registration required for free download; .pdf has 11 pp.), provides an overview of enterprise sustainability and sets out the business case for addressing the risks and opportunities of sustainable development at the enterprise level. It also discusses the ways in which professional accountants in business, especially those working for organizations with significant environmental or social impacts, will be involved with the measurement, recording and interpretation of sustainability-related information.
· Professional Accountants in Business - At the Heart of Sustainability? (.pdf has 43 pp.), the second paper, provides first-hand commentary from eleven senior professionals working in various enterprises around the world on the role of PAIBs and the challenges they face in promoting and implementing sustainable development strategies.
· >?>
o IFAC PAIB Meeting, New York, 12-14 September 2005 >
§ Agenda Paper 3.1.1:
§ (link ??) The Role of the PAIB in Sustainability: A Three Year Action Plan (Word doc. has 13 pp.)
o >>
§ Draft Idw Ass 821 Draft Idw Assurance (.pdf, 22 pp.; In English) = Draft IDW Assurance Standard: Generally Accepted Assurance Principles for the Audit or Review of Sustainability Reports (Draft IDW AsS 821)
· (Status at: May 12, 2005) [Translation Status: July 2005]
§ This search engine has been developed by IFAC and its members to provide professional accountants in business, small and medium practitioners, and other accountants with access to global resources and information.
· UNEP United Nations Environment Programme >
o Other thematic areas > Business & Industry > UNEP DTIE = Division of Technology, Industry, and Economics > Division of Technology, Industry, and Economics > Branches >
§ Sustainable Consumption and Production > Further information > Sustainable Consumption and Production Branch (SCP Branch) > Policies > WSSD & CSD >
· CSD 14/15 >
o Class of 2006: Industry Report Cards on Environment and Social Responsibility (full .pdf has 152 pp.)
o >
§ Services >
· Accounting (.pdf, 3 pp.)
· WSSD >
o DTIE contribution to WSSD > Highlights > UNEP Industry Sector Report Series - 22 sector reports for WSSD >
§ Accounting (By: Roger Adams, ACCA; .pdf has 71 pp.)
· UNCTAD United Nations Conference on Trade and Development >>
o ISAR (Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting)
§ »The objective of ISAR is to promote the transparency, reliability and comparability of corporate accounting and reporting as well as to improve disclosures on corporate governance by enterprises in developing countries and countries with economies in transition.«
§ > e.g.
· >
o Just Published: e.g.
§ International Accounting and Reporting Issues 2008 Review (.pdf, 2010, 174 pp.)
§ 2009 Review of the implementation status of corporate governance disclosures: an inventory of disclosure requirements in 24 emerging markets (.pdf, 8 October 2009, 21 pp.)
§ 2009 Review of the implementation status of corporate governance disclosures: an examination of reporting practices among large enterprises in 12 emerging markets (.pdf, 6 October 2009, 23 pp.)
· Areas of Work > e.g.
o Corporate Governance Disclosure
§ The aim of this project was to assist developing countries and countries with economies in transition in identifying and implementing best corporate governance practices to achieve better transparency, financial disclosure and accountability.
§ > e.g.
· Guidance in Good Practices in Corporate Governance Disclosure (June 2006; .pdf has 53 pp.)
o This guidance is a technical aid for regulators and companies, particularly in developing countries and transition economies. The purpose of the guidance is to help those responsible for preparing company reports to produce disclosures on corporate governance that address the major concerns of investors and other stakeholders.
o UNCTAD draws upon recommendations for corporate governance disclosure contained in documents from other international organizations and national governments, as well as the deliberations of the ISAR. For reference purposes, the guidance also contains a list of national and international resources on corporate governance disclosure.
o > e.g.
§ Chapter 2: Non-Financial Disclosures > also »Material Issues Regarding Stakeholders, and Environmental and Social Stewardship«
· an issues paper on implementation of corporate governance disclosure requirements (.pdf, 2003, 17 pp.)
· five case studies on implementation of corporate governance disclosure (2003; Brazil, France, Kenya, the Russian Federation, the United States)
· Selected Issues in Corporate Governance: Regional and Country Experiences (.pdf, 2003, 65 pp.)
o Corporate Responsibility Reporting > e.g.
§ Guidance on Corporate Responsibility Indicators in Annual Reports (2008; .pdf has 66 pp.)
· ... UNCTAD extends special appreciation to Nancy Kamp–Roelands from Ernst & Young, Netherlands for acting as Chairperson of the ISAR Consultative group that worked on this project between 2004 and 2007...
· … The objective of this guidance, which has been developed with reference to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Guidelines and the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), is to provide detailed guidance on the preparation of reports using the selected indicators…
· See also
o related news: UNCTAD publishes new guidance on corporate responsibility reporting (3 March 2008)
§ 2008 review of corporate responsibility reporting
§ 2008 review of the corporate responsibility performance of large emerging market enterprises
§ Disclosure of the Impact of Corporations on Society (2004; .pdf has 121 pp.)
o Environmental Accounting and Reporting >
§ Eco-efficiency Indicators
· Publications >
o Environmental, Social and Governance Disclosure
· IOSCO International Organisation of Securities Commissions
· CSRwire >
o CSR Directory >
§ Search Category:
· Accounting Associations & Networks
· National and Regional Securities & Exchange Commissions
· National Stock Exchange News and Research
· National Stock Exchange Regional Federations
· National Stock Exchanges
§ See also:
· Policy Innovations »online magazine features ideas for a fairer globalization and a network of innovators.« >
o Ideas > Policy Library >
§ Global Survey of Environmental, Social and Governance Policies (December 2009; By Michael Kane) >
· Global Survey of Environmental, Social and Governance Policies with National Governments, International Organizations and Institutional Investors (.pdf, Revised 31 December 2009, 30 pp.)
· See also
o earlier versions at: ASrIA (.pdf, Revised 29 May 2009, 20 pp.), UN Global Compact (.pdf, Revised 5 February 2008, 10 pp.)
· INTOSAI International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions >>
o Working Group on Environmental Auditing
· IRCA (International Register of Certified Auditors) > e.g.
o Certification programs > e.g.
§ Sustainability assurance practitioner
· OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development > e.g.
o By Topic >
§ Governance >
o Corporate Governance Principles
o Privatisation and Corporate Governance of State-Owned Enterprises
o Insolvency
o Corporate Governance and Dispute Resolution
o Disclosure and Accounting Reform
o Corporate Governance of Non Listed Companies
o Entrepreneurship at Local Level
o Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
o By Department > e.g.
§ OECD Secreteriat > DAF Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs >
· International Investment > Corporate Responsibility
· World Bank >
o Topics >> e.g.
§ Corporate Governance = Reports on the Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSC)
§ Private Sector Development > e.g.
· Toolkits >
· IFC International Finance Corporation >
o Topics A-Z >
· ICGN International Corporate Governance Network > e.g.
o Advocacy >
§ Non-financial business reporting committee
· IR Integrated Reporting
o This Web site and the integrated reporting movement is rooted in a spirit of collaboration that arose during a meeting of investors, standard setters, companies, accounting bodies, UN representatives and civil society at St. James’s Palace in London on September 11, 2009. This meeting was jointly convened by the Global Reporting Initiative and The Prince’s Accounting for Sustainability Initiative.
o See also
§ LinkedIn >>
· Integrated Reporting Group
§ Wikipedia >>
§ Twitter: Search for: #integratedreporting
§ Article by Robert G. Eccles at The Huffington Post: Going Green in Annual Reports (28 May 2010)
§ Press release at GRI: GRI announces its 2015 and 2020 goals and launches G3.1 public comment at first day of Amsterdam Global Conference (26 May 2010)
· During the Opening Plenary, GRI’s Chief Executive Ernst Ligteringen outlined two goals for the next decade.
o … Secondly, GRI proposes that ESG reporting and financial reporting need to converge over the coming decade. GRI advocates that a standard for integrated reporting should be defined, tested and adopted by 2020. GRI is working with leading global organizations in financial markets, accounting, corporate responsibility, ESG reporting, and civil society to establish the International Integrated Reporting Committee.
§ See also:
· Blog post by Mike Krzus at Integrated Reporting Blog: Integrated reporting is an idea whose time has come (31 May 2010; By Mike Krzus) - … because a GRI conference—an event that at one time I never expected to attend—is the place where my doubts about integrated reporting were resolved. …
· Blog post by Elaine Cohen: The GRI Barmitzvah (29 May 2010) - The sold-out biennial GRI 2010 conference with 1,200 attendees from 77 countries ...
· Article at CorpGov.net: GRI Conference Report (28 May 2010; By James McRitchie / Marcy Murninghan)
§ Blog post at Harvard Business Review: The Annual Report as Sustainability's Secret Weapon (19 April 2010; By Robert G. Eccles)
§ Commentary at CSRwire: "One Report" - Is there a Transparency Panacea? (13 April 2010; By Elaine Cohen)
§ Related e-mail interview at HBS Working Knowledge: One Report: Better Strategy through Integrated Reporting (12 April 2010)
§ Related article by Robert Eccles at RI Responsible Investor: The quest for the ‘Holy Grail’ of integrated financial and CSR reporting (30 March 2010)
§ Related article at Ethical Corporation: Opinion: The future of corporate responsibility and sustainability reporting: Integration (15 March 2010) - Integrated sustainability and financial reporting is an ethical obligation, argue Robert G. Eccles and Michael P. Krzus
· GCGF Global Corporate Governance Forum (OECD / WB Partnership)
o »Helping countries improve the standards of governance for their corporations, by fostering the spirit of enterprise and accountability, promoting fairness, transparency and responsibility.«
· ICC International Chamber of Commerce >
· GURN The Global Union Research Network > e.g.
o Topics >
· CorpGov.net (since 1995; Editor of Site: James McRitchie; Emphasis on USA)
o Many Links (also non-USA)
· Governance Focus (Blog)
o »A governance location focused on corporate and board governance, ethics, development and social responsibility. Information is obtained from many sources for a wide range of information, opinion and debate.«
· CSRwire »The Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire« > e.g.
o More Information >
§ Categories:
· Corporate Governance: News Items
· Corporate Governance: CSRlive (articles, video, audio and commentary)
§ A searchable online resource guide listing more than 2,700 organizations working on all aspects of corporate social responsibility in 105 countries.
§ > e.g.
· Search Category:
o Corporate Governance Orgs & Programs
· GRI Global Reporting Initiative > e.g.
o Current Priorities >
§ The Amsterdam Declaration on Transparency and Reporting (March 2009)
· See also related news at CSRwire: The Amsterdam Declaration on Transparency and Reporting (10 March 2009) - Leaders from business, labor and civil society call on governments to demand greater transparency from companies in this time of crisis
§ Future Trends >
· GRI Publications and Reports
· Links >
o Technology and electronic reporting
o Leadership - Resources pointing out government and market leadership in the encouragement of sustainability reporting.
o Indicators and Principles - Resources with the potential to impact the measurement of sustainability indicators and how they are reported.
o Sustainability Indexes and Investment - Resources covering sustainability disclosure and reporting in financial markets.
· Active Discussions
· See also
o related news: Future Trends in Sustainability Reporting: GRI’s new research program (15 June 2010)
§ Several topics will be covered under this program including:
· Integrated reporting
· Regulations
· New report formats
o Learning & Support >
§ GRI Publications >
· Research & Development Publications >
o Other free publications:
§ Carrots and Sticks – Promoting Transparency and Sustainability (.pdf, May 2010, 96 pp.) - An update on trends in Voluntary and Mandatory Approaches to Sustainability Reporting
· Prepared in co-production of: The United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), KPMG Sustainability (The Netherlands), the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) (South Africa) and The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
· See also
o related press release: Governments to play a stronger role in sustainability reporting to ensure a minimum level of disclosure and risk prevention (27 May 2010)
o article at SocialFunds (11 June 2010)
o News & Events >
§ Newsletter >
· 2010 >
o Concluding European Workshop on ESG disclosure takes place – where to go from here? (1 March 2010) >
§ GRI’s Note, based on the submission to the European Commission = Beyond Voluntary Laissez-Faire Reporting: Towards a European ESG Disclosure Framework (.pdf, February 2010, 12 pp.)
o Who are you?
§ »Access tailored GRI-resources from your stakeholder-category.«
§ >
o See also
§ Article at Justmeans: The Future of ESG Reporting: Do Accountants Get It? (3 June 2010; By Leon Kaye; Relating to a GRI 2010 Amsterdam conference)
· Ceres »Investors and Environmentalists for Sustainable Prosperity« (Boston, USA) > e.g.
o Publications > 2007 >
§ The Quiet Revolution in Business Reporting (.pdf, May 2007, 10 pp.; By Allen White)
· This report discusses the limitations of business reporting under today's accounting rules...
· VMRC Value Measurement Reporting Collaborative is a coalition of thought leaders assembled to develop global principles for value measurement and reporting (VMR).
o Affiliated with the VMRC of Canada, the NPI New Paradigm Initiative seeks to revisit and update conventional accounting in accordance with contemporary value drivers that are largely absent from conventional financial reports.
· Economie teoretica si aplicata = Theoretical and Applied Economics > e.g.
o Arhive > 2007 > Nr. 11 / 2007 >
§ New Perspectives on Corporate Reporting: Social-Economic and Environmental Information (By Camelia Iuliana Lungu, Chirata Caraiani & Cornelia Dascalu; .pdf has 6 pp.)
· SSRN Social Science Research Network > e.g.
o Corporate Governance Network (Sponsored by IRRC Institute (IRRCi))
§ >>
· Corporate Governance Research Centers Papers
§ >>
· Social Reporting and New Governance Regulation: The Prospects of Achieving Corporate Accountability through Transparency (2005-?, work in progress; By David Hess, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan)
· International Standards Project
o By: Professors Tim Büthe & Walter Mattli (Duke & Oxford Universities)
o >
§ Assessing the IASB: Results of a Business Survey about International Financial Reporting Standards and IASB's Operations, Accountability, and Responsiveness to Stakeholders (.pdf, 2008, 36 pp.)
· »The first comprehensive business survey specifically about IFRS and IASB standardization«
· The survey was conducted among financial executives—mostly CFOs and chief accounting officers—of companies listed on the major stock exchanges of the United States (NYSE), Germany (Frankfurt), France (Paris-Euronext) and the United Kingdom (London). 749 of these corporate finance experts, representing firms from all industries, participated in the survey.
· FEE (Federation des Experts Comptables Europeens; The European Federation of Accountants) > e.g.
o News > e.g.
§ FEE Position on ESG Disclosure - FEE contribution to EC ESG Disclosure Workshop of 25 February 2010 (.pdf has 5 pp.)
§ FEE - Eurosif Roundtable on “Sustainability Disclosure” (29 April 2009; At the European Parliament, Brussels)
o Our Work > e.g.
§ Company Law & Corporate Governance Working Party
§ Sustainability = Sustainability Working Party (SWP) and Sustainability Policy Group (SPG) > e.g.
· Publications > e.g.
o Comment Letter: FEE Comment Letter on Integrating sustainability further in the learning outcomes and knowledge of the Common Content Project (8 January 2010)
o Press Release: COP 15: not the success hoped for! FEE continues to communicate its strategies on sustainability to help SMEs, the public sector and accountants drive sustainable change (7 January 2010)
o Press Release: Public Sector to drive sustainability and lead by example (21 December 2009)
o Press Release: FEE calls for unified global standards to mitigate climate change (2 December 2009; .pdf has 2 pp.)
o Press Release: Lessons from the Crisis: Time to Shape a Sustainable Economy (16 July 2009)
o Press Release: FEE contributes to the debate on rising to the challenge of sustainability (16 July 2009; Relating to eight policy statements issued on sustainability and the accountancy profession in 2009)
o Press Release: Call to Enhance Sustainability in the Public Sector (8 July 2009)
o Press Release: Eurosif and FEE call for improving sustainability disclosures in financial information (3 July 2009)
o Position Paper: Call for Action - Sustainability Disclosures in Financial Information Can Be Improved (3 July 2009)
o Press Release: Sustainability disclosures in financial information can be improved (29 April 2009)
o Comment Letter: FEE Comment Letter on Exposure Draft of Guidance for the Use of AA 1000 AS (2008) (18 March 2009)
o Press Release: FEE calls on accountants in organisations of all kinds and sizes to acknowledge their role in embedding sustainability as a core part of strategy and decision-making (19 January 2009)
o Position Paper: Call for Action - Need to Increase Education in Sustainability for Accountants and Management! (17 December 2008; .pdf has 11 pp.)
o Discussion Paper: Sustainability Information in Annual Reports - Building on Implementation of the Modernisation Directive (December 2008; .pdf has 62 pp.)
o Publications >
· Accountants driving sustainable changes in the public sector (7 January 2010; .pdf has 2 pp.)
· Equipping accountants for a sustainable future (7 January 2010; .pdf has 2 pp.)
· Small and sustainable: opportunities for SMEs (7 January 2010; .pdf has 2 pp.)
· Shaping a Sustainable Economy (16 July 2009; .pdf has 4 pp.)
· Towards a Sustainable Economy: the contribution of Assurance (16 July 2009; .pdf has 2 pp.)
· Carbon Emissions Information (16 July 2009; .pdf has 2 pp.)
· Embedding Sustainability into Corporate Governance (16 July 2009; .pdf has 2 pp.))
· Policy Statements on core issues in relation to Sustainability and the accountancy profession - Four Policy Statements on Sustainability (19 January 2009) >
o Cost Internalisation (.pdf has 1 pp.)
o Multiple-Stakeholders: The Essence of Multidisciplinary Teams (.pdf has 2 pp.)
o Non-Financial Information (.pdf has 1 pp.)
o The Contribution of the Accountancy Profession (.pdf has 1 pp.)
o Events
o Reference and Links
· Europa >> European Commission >>
o Internal Market >
· Accounting >
o News
o IAS
o Committees at EU Level
o Directives, Regulations and other official documents > e.g.
§ Directive 2006/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2006
· (10) ...Furthermore, where relevant, companies may also provide an analysis of environmental and social aspects necessary for an understanding of the company's development, performance and position.
§ Modernisation and updating of accounting rules:
· Directive 2003/51/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18.6.2003 (Accounting Modernisation Directive)
o Other documents
· Auditing
§ Company Law and Corporate Governance > e.g.
· Modernisation of Company Law and Enhancement of Corporate Governance
o Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities >
§ What we do > Partners > Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) > (historical): Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) website > e.g.
· Commission documents of public interest >
o Reporting & Corporate Governance >
§ Directive 2003/51/EC amending Council Directives 78/660/EEC, 83/349/EEC and 91/674/EEC on the annual and consolidated accounts of certain types of companies and insurance undertakings (June 2003)
§ Communication Modernising Company Law and Enhancing Corporate Governance in the European Union - A Plan to Move Forward (May 2003)
§ Recommendation on the recognition, measurement and disclosure of environmental issues in the annual accounts and annual reports of companies (May 2001)
o Enterprise and Industry >
§ Policy highlights:
· Sustainable and responsible business >
o Corporate Social Responsibility >
· Workshops on the disclosure of environmental, social and governance information (September 2009 – February 2010)
o Each workshop looked at ESG disclosure from the perspective of a different set of stakeholders (available are Summaries of discussions, Presentations and Background documents)
o See also Trucost: ESG disclosure rises up agenda in Europe (July 2010 – Newsletter – Issue 1) - … In his role as Trucost's Executive Chairman, Paul Druckman (ICAEW, FEE, A4S) provides insight into the latest developments.
§ ESG disclosure is likely to form an important part of a renewed EU Corporate Social Responsibility strategy, to be adopted in 2010/11.
· Europa > Documents > European law > Summaries of legislation > e.g.
o Internal Market >
§ Company Law > Corporate Accounting
· EABIS European Academy of Business in Society > e.g.
o Resources >
§ Library >
· Themes: Corporate Governance
§ Links >
· General:
o EABIS-EFMD Business in Society Gateway >
§ Resources:
· Category: Corporate Governance/Accountability
· ESRA The European Sustainability Reporting Association
o Our aim is to improve Sustainability Reporting by sharing trends and best practice across European countries.
o ESRA was formed by national accountancy bodies. Each accountancy body has appointed a member to represent it in ESRA.
o >
§ Countries:
· Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
o >
§ Perspectives
· These reports have been submitted by the following groups, Summarising the overall sustainability reporting developments and trends in Europe.
o EC Report
o GRI Report
o FEE Report
· EAA The European Accounting Association
· CESR The Committee of European Securities Regulators
· Deloitte >>
o IAS Plus >
· EFRAG European Financial Reporting Advisory Group
· ECGI European Corporate Governance Institute
o The ECGI is an international scientific non-profit association. We provide a forum for debate and dialogue between academics, legislators and practitioners, focusing on major corporate governance issues and thereby promoting best practice.
· ecoDa European Confederation of Directors' Associations
· econsense »Forum Nachaltige Entwicklung der Deutschen Wirtschaft« (Berlin; Partner of, e.g.: CSR Europe, WBCSD, BDI, UPJ) > e.g.
o CSR Info Pool >
o CSR Links >
· AFGE Association Française de Gouvernement d'Entreprise = French Corporate Governance Association
o L’AFGE est un forum permanent de discussion, d’information et de médiation ouvert entre les entreprises et leurs actionnaires sur les principes de gouvernement d’entreprise, éthiques et du développement durable.
· NCCG National Council on Corporate Governance (Russia; Also English version of website)
· Center for Business Ethics and Corporate Governance (St. Petersburg, Russia)
· Corporate Governance in Russia (Investor Protection Association)
· Accountancy Research (Website of Nancy Kamp-Roelands)
· NIVRA Koninklijk Nederlands Instituut van Registeraccountants (The Netherlands)
o Het NIVRA >
§ Over het NIVRA >
· Activiteiten >
o Kernprojecten >
§ Vaktechnisch:
· Assurance en verantwoording van niet-financiële informatie
o Thema's >
§ MVO Maatschappelijk Verantwoord Ondernemen
§ Publieke sector >
· Dossier NFI (Niet-financiële informatie)
o Also shorter English version of website > e.g.
· RJ Raad voor de Jaarverslaggeving (The Netherlands; Council for Annual Reporting) > e.g.
o Richtlijnen >
§ Handreiking MVO (Handreiking voor Maatschappelijke verslaggeving)
· KPMG Sustainability – The Netherlands
· KWT Kammer der Wirtschaftstreuhänder (Austria) >
o Spezialgebiete >
· Umwelt- kostenrechnung
o = Leitlinie zu wesentlichen nichtfinanziellen Leistungsindikatoren, insbesondere zu Umwelt- und ArbeitnehmerInnenbelangen, im Lagebericht (.pdf, 2008, 62 pp.)
· CSR, EU-Emissions- handelssystem, FEE, ASRA, Education in sustainability
· AECA Asociación Española de Contabilidad y Administración de Empresas (Madrid, Spain) >
o Investigacion > Comisiones de Estudio >
§ Responsabilidad Social Corporativa
· FAR SRS The institute for the accountancy profession in Sweden (Also English version of website)
· MUFAD - Muhasebe ve Finansman Ogretim Uyeleri Dernegi = AAFA Assocation of Accounting and Finance Academicians (Turkey; Also English version of website) > e.g.
o Dijital Archieves >> e.g.
§ A review on how CPAs should be involved in environmental auditing and reporting for the core aim of it (.pdf, 16 pp.; By Mehmet Özbirecikli)
· This Paper was presented in "The Balkan Countries' 1st International Conference on Accounting and Auditing" 8-9 March 2007
· ACCA Association of Chartered Certified Accountants >
o Your Country/Region
· ACCA Association of Chartered Certified Accountants > e.g.
o General public > Technical activities >
§ Subject areas > e.g.
§ Research programme > e.g.
· Published research > e.g.
o Financial reporting research
o Governance research
§ Technical library > e.g.
· Corporate governance library
o National sites >>
§ UK > e.g.
· UK Members >
o Publications >
§ Sustainability and the Accountant (briefing papers) >
· Reporting sustainablity briefing, Economic instruments, Assurance, Corporate Governance, Accounting
§ Wales, Scotland
· ICAEW (UK) »The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales« > e.g.
o Qualifications >
§ The Business Sustainability e-learning programme (BSP) aims to raise awareness of the business case for Corporate Responsibility and the issues which face companies in becoming sustainable.
o Technical & Business Topics >
§ Topics >
· Audit and assurance
o re: Assurance >
§ Assurance on non financial information >
· Assurance on non financial information:Existing practices and issue (.pdf, July 2008, 28 pp.)
· Corporate governance
· Financial reporting >
o See also:
§ Information for Better Markets > e.g.
· IFBM reports >
o Developments in new reporting models (December 2009; .pdf has 109 pp.)
· Ethics
· Finance and capital markets
· Information technology
· Law and regulation
· Tax
§ Thought leadership >
o Library >
§ Links >
· Environment & Sustainability
· FRC Financial Reporting Council > e.g.
o Our Operating Bodies > e.g.
§ ASB Accounting Standards Board
§ Corporate Governance Financial Reporting Council > e.g.
· UK’s Corporate Governance Code (formerly the Combined Code)
o The Combined Code on Corporate Governance sets out standards of good practice in relation to issues such as board composition and development, remuneration, accountability and audit and relations with shareholders.
· BIS Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (UK) > e.g.
o Policies >
§ Business Law > e.g.
· Companies Act 2006
· Corporate Governance
· Financial Reporting
· CIMA Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK)
o CIMA is the world’s largest and leading professional body of management accountants. We have 172,000 members and students in 165 countries. (as of January 2010)
o > e.g.
§ >
· Standards and ethics > also
o Webcasts, library, reports > also
§ Incorporating ethics into strategy - Find out how finance professionals can shape their organisations' ethical agendas to develop sustainable business models = Incorporating ethics into strategy: developing sustainable business models (.pdf, February 2010, 15 pp.; Discussion paper by: Victor Smart and Danielle Cohen)
· See also related article: Take action on ethics and strategy
§ Managing responsible business (.pdf, 2008, 30 pp.)
· This 2008 CIMA survey with the Institute of Business Ethics (IBE) explored how companies manage their ethical performance and how this affects the finance function.
§ >
· Ethics reading > e.g.
o CSR reporting (.pdf, June 2006, 3 pp.; Financial Management) - how social and environmental performance issues affect firms' strategic decision making
§ Carol Adams and Geoff Frost report on the findings of their research into how social/environmental performance issues affect firms’ strategic decision-making.
§ Events and CPD courses >
· Mastercourses >
o Mastercourses by category: Strategic management > e.g.
§ Accounting for carbon
§ Carbon reporting and footprinting
§ Sustainability: the business case
§ Thought leadership >
· Reports and research by topic >
o Sustainability and climate change >
§ Accounting for climate change >
· Accounting for climate change: How management accountants can help organisations mitigate and adapt to climate change (.pdf, December 2009, 19 pp.)
· Case studies of the role of the finance team in climate change projects
· Climate change survey = Climate change - the role of the finance professional (.pdf, December 2009, 21 pp.)
o A CIMA and Accounting for Sustainability (a Prince of Wales initiative) international survey of almost 900 finance and sustainability professionals.
· See also
o Related press release: Accountants must take ownership of corporate climate change initiatives (8 December 2009)
§ Emissions trading and the management accountant (18 December 2006)
§ OFR and sustainability roundtable >
· Technical Report: Examining the impact of the OFR on sustainable development and corporate reporting (.pdf, 2005, 21 pp.; Writers: Danka Starovic, Dr Arlo Brady)
§ Climate change calls for strategic change (CIMA; 31 March 2008)
§ Accounting for sustainable development performance (18 December 2006; By Jan Bebbington)
o Financial reporting >
· Report leadership is a coalition between CIMA, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Radley Yeldar.
· E-magazines > e.g.
o Insight
§ Insight »is a monthly e-mail newsletter sent to professional accountants in business across the globe.«
§ > e.g.
· Insight January 2010 >
o Accounting for climate change: your role
o Excellence in leadership is a series of official quarterly publications and supplements for the CPD needs of key finance decision makers.
o >
§ Responsible business (June 2008)
· KPMG UK
· Accountancy Age > e.g.
o News >
§ News
§ In Depth > e.g.
· Accountants and the crisis: CSR - man overboard (24 July 2008; Written by Damian Wild) - A commitment to CSR is de rigueur for the modern business - but will it survive the economic downturn or be seen as a luxury few can afford?
o Homepage >
§ Special Reports > e.g.
· The green accountancy report (5 July 2007)
o Accountants are best placed to help business play its part in reducing the pollutants, toxins and greenhouse gases pouring into the environment.
o Indeed, we are best placed to measure the extent of the problem and disclose it through company reports. But we need the tools to do it.
o In this special Green Report we look at what those might be, and the issues surrounding corporate responsibility.
· PwC UK >
o Issues >
o Services >
§ Audit and Assurance services:
· Non-financial performance & reporting
o > also
§ PwC corporate reporting blog (David Phillips, senior corporate reporting partner)
o >>
§ BPTA Building Public Trust Awards »celebrates the commitment of the UK's largest corporations and public sector bodies to build public trust through their communication of the key building blocks of sustainable performance.«
· FT.com Financial Times > e.g.
o UK >>
§ Time to rethink our model for corporate reporting (11 December 2008; By David Phillips, PwC)
· See also: Comment > Letters >
o ‘Sustainability reporting’ is becoming the business norm (15 December 2008; By Ernst Ligteringen, GRI)
o Partnership Publishing >>
§ Understanding Reporting (12 October 2007; 10 articles) > e.g.
· Beyond finance: Coming Clean (By Jennifer Hughes) - As environmental and social concerns move up the corporate agenda, organisations are under growing pressure to include their sustainable business practices within their company reports
· HRH The Prince of Wales (UK) >> e.g.
o Accounting for Sustainability Project (launched in December 2006) > e.g.
§ Connected Reporting Framework
· See also, e.g.:
o Related article at Environmental Leader: Global Accounting Groups Commit to Sustainability Practices (6 July 2009) - The Prince of Wales’ Accounting for Sustainability Forum has announced that its 16 global accounting body members have signed the Forum’s five sustainability principles.
§ >>
· Sustainability at Work (website launched on 12 December 2007) > e.g.
o Decision Support >
§ Financial management & accounting (sustainability accounting, full-cost accounting, etc.)
§ Appraisal & evaluation techniques
§ See also related articles at:
· FT.com: Counters face up to green beans (1 September 2008; By Robert Bruce)
· Accountancy Age: Sustainability reporting: it's not rocket science (10 January 2008; By Richard Reid, KPMG) - Prince Charles has made sustainability reporting simple, now it's up to companies to embed it in their processes
· Tomorrow’s Company (London, UK) >> e.g.
§ Tomorrow’s Company, in partnership with Heidrick & Struggles, has created a cutting edge web 2.0 site that is going to bring to life, in a practical and innovative way, the themes from our latest inquiry Tomorrow’s Global Company: challenges and choices. Our ambition is that this site builds a global community of interest using the inquiry report as a framework and platform for demonstrating why and how business can be a force for good.
§ >
· Issues:
o Redefining Success - beyond accounting > e.g.
§ A discussion paper on sustainability reporting by Professor Graham Hubbard (15 December 2008; .pdf has 15 pp.)
· This discussion paper by Graham Hubbard of the University of Adelaide is part of a project being undertaken with Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and Tomorrow’s Company on the impact that sustainability reporting frameworks have on their users.
§ A joint forward to Beyond Accounting (By Tony Manwaring, Chief Executive, Tomorrow’s Company and Richard Spencer, Manager Corporate Responsibility, ICAEW)
§ See also:
· ICAEW
o Tomorrow's Corporate Reporting (launched: July 2010)
§ The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Tomorrow’s Company are setting up a global study on how to improve corporate reporting.
§ … We intend to supplement the responses we get with a number of dialogues with stakeholders in London, New York, Paris, Brussels and Asia and look to produce a preliminary report by the end of the year so as to coincide with the work of the Accounting for Sustainability Group to lobby the G20 for the creation of a new International Integrated Reporting Committee to oversee the development of a new reporting model. …
§ See also
· related article at RI Responsible Investor: Asset owners: corporate reporting project needs you! (7 July 2010)
· The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB; Pavan Sukhdev, Study Leader) >>
o TEEB – The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Report for Business - Executive Summary 2010 (.pdf, July 2010, 27 pp.)
§ See also related articles at:
· Guardian: Accounting rules could force businesses to disclose environmental impact (13 July 2010) - A new initiative by regulators may call on firms to publish information about their social and environmental impacts
o … Underlining the potentially universal nature of the recommended changes, the study leader, Pavan Sukhdev, said he was discussing with both the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the UK accounting organisation (ICAEW), new regulations requiring companies to publish information about their environmental and social impacts – such as freshwater use and pollution, or the destruction or improvement of habitat for species – and standards for doing this.
· Environmental Leader: Initiative Could Require Businesses to Reveal Environmental Impact (14 July 2010)
· Deutsche Welle: Economists call for accounting rules on environmental impact (14 July 2010)
· PIRC Pensions Investment Research Consultants Ltd. is the UKs' leading independent research and advisory consultancy providing services to institutional investors on corporate governance and corporate social responsibility.
· FReM UK Government Financial Reporting Manual
o »The Financial Reporting Manual is the technical accounting guide that complements guidance on the handling of public funds published separately by the relevant authorities.«
o > e.g.
§ Sustainability and Environmental Reporting
· »As part of its sustainable development strategy the Government encourages both companies and public bodies to disclose their sustainability and environmental performance via their annual reports and accounts.«
· »The purpose of this web page is to provide examples of good practice and sources of further information on sustainability and environmental reporting from private and public sector.«
· CIPFA (UK) The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy >
o Technical >
§ Sustainability >
· Reports and Publications > also
o Sustainability: A Reporting Framework for the Public Services (2006; Launched in June 2006; To purchase??; Foreword and Contents available for download)
o Advancing Sustainability Accounting and Reporting: An Agenda for Public Service Organisations, including local authorities (2004; .pdf has 39 pp.; Free to download)
· Useful Links and Resources >
o Sustainability accounting and reporting
· FASB Financial Accounting Standards Board (USA)
· US GAAP US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (USA)
· NYSSCPA.org (USA, New York State Society of CPAs – Certified Public Accountants) >
o The CPA Journal (USA)
· AICPA American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (USA) > e.g.
o Publications >
§ Journal of Accountancy >>
· December 2006 >
o The Future of Corporate Sustainability Reporting (By Brian Ballou, Dan L. Heitger and Charles E. Landes)
o Interest Areas >
§ Accounting & Auditing >
· Browse: By Topic:
o Enhanced Business Reporting (See also here - Enhanced Business Reporting Consortium – EBR 360)
§ Business, Industry & Government >
· Quick links:
o Sustainability >
· … While many large companies issue separate, or stand-alone sustainability reports, the trend is in the direction of integrated or connected reporting.
§ Sustainability Assurance and Other Services
§ >>
· Sustainability and Sustainability Reporting FAQ (.pdf, 5 pp.)
· Browse: By Topic:
o See also
§ Related blog post by James F Reeves: Looking Beyond the Numbers (16 March 2010)
§ Related video via Corporate Reporting to Stakeholders (CICA blog): US - AICPA chairman discusses accounting for sustainability (20 November 2009; Note: Robert R. Harris is Chairman of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for 2009-10.)
§ related .pdf at Accounting for Sustainability website: Integrating governance, risk and reporting to create long-term value (.pdf, May 2008, 6 pp.; By Brian Ballou and Dan L. Heitger; In Strategic Finance)
· AAA American Accounting Association
· IMA Institute of Management Accountants (Montvale, New Jersey, USA) >
o Publications >
§ Statements on Management Accounting >
· Business Performance Management > e.g.
o The Evolution of Accountability - Sustainability Reporting for Accountants (2008).
· SEC Securities and Exchange Commission (USA) >> e.g.
o SEC: Commission Guidance Regarding Disclosure Related to Climate Change - Final Rule (.pdf, 8 February 2010, 9 pp.)
o Commission Guidance Regarding Disclosure Related to Climate Change (.pdf, 2 February 2010, 29 pp.)
§ Press Release: SEC Issues Interpretive Guidance on Disclosure Related to Business or Legal Developments Regarding Climate Change (27 January 2010)
o See also, e.g.
§ CSRwire: SEC on ESG? (2 March 2010; CSRlive Commentary by Bill Baue) - Is the Security and Exchange Commission Finally Integrating Sustainability and Governance Factors into Regulation?
· Harvard University >>
o John F. Kennedy School of Government >>
§ The Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations >> e.g.
· Initiative for Responsible Investment (IRI) - (formerly the Institute for Responsible Investment at the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship) >>
o From Transparency to Performance: Industry-Based Sustainability Reporting on Key Issues (.pdf, June 2010, 101 pp.; Industry-specific KPIs)
§ See also
· related news: Report Calls for Mandatory Reporting of CSR Key Performance Indicators (7 July 2010)
o The Corporate Library’s mission is to provide independent corporate governance research and analysis, thereby enabling our clients to enhance value and profitability by minimizing risk and increasing accountability.
o > also
§ Products > Global Corporate Governance Standards Directory
· ABA American Bar Association (USA)
o »The Mission of the American Bar Association is to be the national representative of the legal profession, serving the public and the profession by promoting justice, professional excellence and respect for the law.«
o >>
§ The Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources >
· Special Committee on Environmental Disclosure
o »Environmental professionals must understand the evolving rules and industry practices relating to environmental disclosure. Sarbanes-Oxley imposes new duties and creates new pitfalls — for lawyers and all environmental professionals.«
· Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP »is one of the world’s premier law firms« (New York, NY) >
o Practices >
§ Corporate:
· Environmental >
o Related Publications >
§ Environmental Disclosure in SEC Filings – 2010 Update (.pdf, 8 February 2010, 14 pp.; Client Memorandum)
· There have been some important developments in these areas since we published our 2009 memorandum, in particular:
o an SEC adoption of an interpretive release on climate change disclosure;
o new proxy rules;
o significant developments in the areas of climate change regulation and litigation; and
o changes in the accounting of environmental loss contingencies.
§ Environmental Disclosure in SEC Filings (.pdf, 21 January 2009, 56 pp.; Client Memorandum; Or here (.pdf))
· CFO.com »An Economist Group business« > e.g.
o CFO magazine > e.g.
§ September 2009 >
· Dirty Secrets (By Marie Leone and Tim Reason) - Companies may be burying billions more in environmental liabilities than their financial statements show.
o Special Reports >>
§ The Greening of Corporate America (23 October 2007)
· A collection of our most popular articles on the topic of corporate environmental responsibility and FIN 47.
· Advanced Environmental Dimensions, LLC, was founded in 2005 to promote the advancement of best practices in environmental accounting and disclosure - Use this web site to get educated and stay current in the field of environmental financial reporting, including FIN 47.
· Corporate Disclosure Alert - News items and alerts related to corporate disclosures to investors of market trends and liabilities, as well as other trends, events or uncertainties that may materially affect corporate finances.
o A blog by Sanford Lewis focusing on selected developments regarding shareholder rights regarding corporate disclosure, governance, and accountability.
· SocialFunds.com > e.g.
o News > News Center >> e.g.
§ Investors Push Companies For Greater Disclosure on Lawsuits (11 September 2008; By Robert Kropp) - A proposed FASB rule change would require that loss contingencies related litigation be disclosed to investors.
· See also related article at Environmental Leader:
o FASB Proposes Controversial Accounting Standard (1 September 2008) - ... The proposed accounting standard seeks to modify the rules currently governing loss contingencies, including the disclosure of the costs of ongoing environmental litigation and pending unsettled lawsuits...
· US EPA = United States Environmental Protection Agency >> e.g.
o Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation >>
§ Office of Cross-Media Programs >>
o This website provides information on EPA’s Financial Markets Workgroup and its work examining the link between corporate environmental and financial performance. The workgroup forms partnerships with representatives of the financial sector to explore whether strong environmental performance can lead to higher long-term corporate returns.
o > e.g.
§ Reports > e.g.
· Summary of Financial Accounting Standards for Environmental Liabilities, Intangible Assets, and Climate Change Risk (.pdf, 28 April 2008, 62 pp.)
· EthicsWorld (USA; Sponsored by the Vogl Foundation)
o »A vibrant, current and inter-active website for views, comments, reports and news on governance, business ethics and anti-corruption in the United States and across the world.«
o > e.g.
§ News
§ Corporate Social Responsibility
· The Conference Board USA >
o Programs >
· CED Committee for Economic Development (Washington, DC) >
o Issues >
· SCCE The Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA) »exists to champion compliance standards, corporate governance and ethical practice in the business community and to provide the necessary resources for compliance and ethics professionals and others who share these principles.«
o Compliance is: »The process of meeting the expectations of others. More specifically, it is the process of helping professionals understand and meet the expectations of those who grant us money, pay for our services, regulate our industry, etc.«
· Website of Robert A.G. Monks (RAGM)
o His Blog
· Corporate Directors Forum (La Jolla, CA; USA)
· Deloitte USA >
o Center for Corporate Governance
· Harvard Law School Program on Corporate Governance
· Accountability Central is the information portal for the Governance and Accountability Institute Inc. (G&A; Mineola, New York) > e.g.
o Categories:
§ Corporate Governance