CA ANZ joins a diverse group of Australia and New Zealand’s most distinguished professional bodies to officially launch the Global Professional Bodies Climate Action Charter
The charter aims to facilitate collaboration and sharing of resources amongst disciplines to advance and accelerate climate action
Taking action on climate is a collective challenge, and therefore we must band together in a collective response.
Today Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand has joined a diverse group of Australia and New Zealand’s most distinguished professional bodies to officially launch the Global Professional Bodies Climate Action Charter in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ). The charter aims to facilitate collaboration and sharing of resources amongst disciplines to advance and accelerate climate action. Through an interdisciplinary approach, it also aims to develop a common language of sustainability between and across professions.
Members of the Charter commit to supporting their members in contributing to a better future for our planet, and to assist the acceleration of climate engagement across the broader region.
“Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) are thrilled to join the Global Professional Bodies Climate Action Charter,” said Chief Executive Officer Ainslie van Onselen.
“Taking action on climate is a collective challenge, and therefore we must band together in a collective response. We look forward to working alongside the Charter members, and to share our expertise and knowledge.”
The initial group includes Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, Engineers Australia and the National Environmental Law Association as well as professional associations peak body Australian Council of Professions and the peak body representing forward-thinking companies and organisations Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia.
Representing over 1 million professionals across Australia and New Zealand, this announcement signals the growing momentum for professional bodies to provide leadership, up-to-date technical and ethical guidance as well as advocacy which can be communicated across the professions and society.
“Taking action on climate is a collective challenge, and therefore we must band together in a collective response. We look forward to working alongside the Charter members, and to share our expertise and knowledge.” Chief Executive Officer Ainslie van Onselen
This initiative also provides access to over 250,000 professionals in the United Kingdom, with high prospects of expanding its international reach even further.
This collective commitment to the global Professional Bodies Climate Action Charter seeks to help turn the pledges of professional bodies into broader action across the sectors, through two primary means:
Developing a plan to support our members to contribute towards the Paris Agreement and UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Accelerating climate actions at both pace and scale across Australia and New Zealand through engagement with professional bodies, government and the public.
In collaboration with other bodies, we intend to harness and share our joint expertise and climate-relevant resources for our members to enhance their capabilities to practice sustainability, including a timeline for achieving this, and identifying the help and collaboration needed from within our partnerships to achieve this.
“In our role as the Australian focal point for the We Mean Business Coalition we are excited to join in this important step by Australia’s leading professional bodies as they work on the delivery of real progress towards 1.5ºc and aim to be part of the solutions that will support government, businesses and civil society to take actions to reduce emissions across all scopes swiftly and fairly in line with the Paris Agreement as well as deliver a healthier, fairer zero carbon world in time,” said Andrew Petersen, CEO, Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia.
“The National Environmental Law Association (NELA) is delighted to partner in this significant opportunity for knowledge sharing and learning. We look forward to working collaboratively with like-minded professional associations to reduce the likelihood that the lives and livelihoods of future generations globally will be imperilled by the unsustainable activities of past and current generations. NELA members recognise that we must accelerate climate change mitigation and adaptation, and biodiversity conservation and restoration, globally and in our region.”
Dr Hanna Jaireth, President, National Environmental Law Association
“Engineers Australia is committed to action on the increasingly urgent threat of climate change and welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Global Professional Bodies Climate Action Charter. Tackling climate change requires a multi-disciplinary approach and collaboration across all professions. Together we can drive the systemic changes and innovations that will help combat the adverse impacts of climate change.”
Dr Bronwyn Evans AM, CEO, Engineers Australia
The Australian Council of Professions is facilitating the setting up a 'Professional Bodies Forum for Climate Action’ to engage with organisations in ANZ about the Charter and share ideas, information and knowledge to provide value to those who are both Supporters of or Signatories to the Charter.
We are seeking expressions of interest from all other professions in Australia and New Zealand to support or join the Charter. For more information, please email: Climate.Action@Professions.org.au