ACCA is the largest global professional accountancy body in the world, with over 345,000 members and students in 160 countries. ACCA's headquarters is in London and it has 75 offices and other centres around the world.
The ACCA syllabus has been adopted by the United Nations as providing the basis for a global accountancy qualification.
ACCA's mission is to provide quality professional opportunities to people of ability and application, to be a leader in the development of the global accountancy profession, to promote the highest ethical and governance standards and to work in the public interest.
ACCA has promoted transparency in reporting the impact of business activities on sustainable development for over a decade. ACCA is involved in reporting awards in more than 20 countries in Europe, Africa and the Asia Pacific region. In addition, ACCA participates in a number of influential organisations, including the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).
In recognition of its UK social and environmental issues programme, ACCA has been awarded a Queen's Award for Sustainable Development. ACCA issues a free web-based newsletter, Accounting & Sustainability, every two months, providing a comprehensive guide on developments in accounting and sustainable development. Further information on ACCA is available at "http://www.accaglobal.com/sustainability" www.accaglobal.com/sustainability.
ABOUT WWF:
For more than four decades in over 90 countries around the world, WWF has worked for the conservation of nature and ecological processes, through the concept of sustainable development. WWF defines this as a series of processes which are economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound: development that does not integrate all three is simply not sustainable.
This involves change in business practices and lifestyles, as well as the adoption of environmental and social standards to stay within the limits of available resources. Political will and appropriate incentives to the private sector are required to convert the ideas into action.
COMPLETENESS 40%:
-- Corporate context
-- Key (direct and indirect) environmental impacts of business considered and explained
-- Environmental policy and management commitment
-- Rationale behind choice of EPIs used in report
-- Environmental targets and objectives
-- Product or service stewardship (eg design, LCA, disposal policies)
-- Supplier procurement policies and issues
-- Scope of the report (by entity)
-- Reporting and accounting policies (eg reporting period, consolidation)
-- Report audience identified
-- Linkages between environmental reporting and sustainability issues
CREDIBILITY 35%:
-- Internal credibility:
-- Headline environmental achievements in current period
-- Named board member responsible for environmental issues
-- Contact name and details for person in charge of report
-- EMS and its integration into the business process
-- Contingency planning and risk management
-- Internal audit
-- Compliance/non-compliance record
-- Environmental impact data
-- Conventional finance related data (environmental investments, provisions, contingent liabilities, fines etc)
-- Environmental financial statements and full cost accounting
COMMUNICATION 25%:
-- Layout and appearance
-- Understandability, readability, accessibility and appropriate length
-- Frequency
-- Communication and feedback mechanisms
-- Innovative approaches
-- Availability of a summary report and/or executive summary
-- Comprehensive navigation through report
-- Use of internet
-- Reference to website and other reports (eg financial, social)
-- Appropriateness of graphs, illustrations and photos
-- Integration with financial statements