ICAEW partners with IFRS and UN to elevate global sustainability reporting standards

ICAEW has formed two new strategic partnerships to advance sustainability reporting. The organisation will work with the IFRS Foundation and the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges initiative. These collaborations aim to strengthen global standards and training for sustainability disclosures. The IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards seek to improve how companies report financial risks and opportunities tied to sustainability. They provide clearer, comparable data to help capital markets assess companies across regions and sectors. The standards also highlight how climate impacts, resource access, and supply chain disruptions affect cash flow and business value.

ICAEW has become an official Training Partner in the ISSB Training Partner Programme. This allows it to deliver IFRS Foundation training materials globally. The role supports the adoption of ISSB Standards, already used or endorsed in over 40 jurisdictions, including by the UK government.

The partnership with the UN SSE initiative will focus on building capacity through stock exchanges. Training will target the accountancy profession, aiming to improve disclosure quality. This reflects a broader shift in capital markets, where sustainability data is increasingly treated as core financial information. Sustainability reporting is moving closer to the rigour of audited financial reporting. Companies will need to strengthen internal controls and governance to meet these standards. Consistent training across jurisdictions could enhance trust in sustainability information for global capital markets.