top stories

The Second Ukrainian Business Summit "Climate change: global approaches and local responses" took place on March 24, 2010 in Kiev, Ukraine.

It was organized by United Nations in Ukraine, Global Compact Network Ukraine and Kommersant Newspaper, with support from the Ministry of Natural Environment Protection. The summit brought together high-profile representatives of industry, regulators and policy-makers, NGOs, international organizations.

The meeting provided a forum for the exchange of experiences concerning environmental protection and climate change. Leading experts, executive officers and managers of Ukrainian and international companies, representatives from government and the non-governmental sector discussed the results of the Copenhagen climate summit meeting; the application of  innovative, environment-friendly business models; state encouragement of environmentally responsible businesses; the necessity of private-public partnerships; renewable technologies and efficient resource utilisation.

Also for the first time in Ukraine, ACCA has presented its thought leadership in environmental reporting and climate change issues. Henning Drager, ACCA Head of Sustainability and CSR projects delivered a presentation on the role of accountants in countering climate change, bringing low-carbon economy closer, and prospects of establishing unified global environement accounting and reporting standards,

Talking about the role and engagement of ACCA in fostering these issues, Henning mentioned particularly about the followint points of focus of ACCA:

• Carbon accounting, reporting and assurance;
• Shaping transparent carbon markets;
• Support pathways to a business friendly low carbon, high sustainability world;
• Stimulating “beyond carbon” debate e.g. water accounting, ecological footprinting.

In his presentation he also presented examples of UK business response to climate change, and also presented possible pointers for Ukraine:

• History shows that EU membership drives progressive environmental legislation;
• Business (big and small) has a major role to play in shaping the journey towards a low carbon economy;
• Carbon markets are coming – transparency and  uniform reporting guidelines will be key to  success;
• Multi-disciplinary and international approach needed to tackle climate change, it is time to shape the agenda.

Presentation by Henning Drager brought a lot of interest to the role of accountants in environment protection issues, as many participants seemed to be not realising the link between the sustainable developement and the role accountants have to play in this.
 

Back to top